Within the Sydney basin, approximately 45 nm around Sydney , there are numerous busy aerodromes, most of which are CTAF, CTAF R or have an Air Traffic Control service.

Be aware that heavy jet aircraft operate 500ft from the base of controlled airspace around Sydney and generate wake turbulence. You are responsible for the wake turbulence separation.

High volume domestic and international traffic airport.

The airspace within the Sydney Basin has been designed to facilitate operations into and out of Sydney .

 

Bankstown Airport (GAAP)

• Bankstown YSBK is Australia ’s busiest airport.
• Air Traffic Control is provided as per ERSA. ATC Services not AVBL Christmas Day - CTAF R procedures applies.
• There are 2 peak periods of high level IFR operations – early morning for departures and early evening for arrivals.
• Caution: airspace over the BK CTR (above A015)is Class C  airspace.

Be aware that during periods of inclement weather IFR aircraft will be conducting instrument approaches and these approaches to the west of Bankstown take the aircraft outside controlled airspace on descent.

 

Camden (GAAP)

• Camden operates as a CTAF R with Air Traffic Control being provided as per ERSA. ATC Services not AVBL Christmas Day – CTAF R Procedures applies.
• CN NDB is a busy IFR training aid.
• CN gliding operations 7 days

Camden has a high concentration of Gliders. IFR aircraft conduct practice NDB and GPS approaches.

Richmond (Military)

• The Richmond airspace has been designed to contain the requirements appropriate to military aircraft.
• Practice civilian approaches are available. Delays can be expected during periods of military operations and when runway 10 is the nominated runway.

Airspace becomes class G with CTAF R procedures out of hours but is subject to short term recall. Check ATIS or Sydney Radar on 124.55.

Wedderburn, Hoxton Park, Wollongong, Mittagong, Katoomba and Warnervale

• These airfields all operate to CTAF or CTAF R procedures.
• Both Wollongong and Warnervale have parachute operations.
• Wollongong is used by IFR training aircraft for practice NDB and GPS approaches.

Numerous other ALAs and Helipads

• Most hospitals in the Sydney basin have their own helipad .
• There are a large number of medical helicopters operating within the Sydney area.

The busiest hospital for helicopters is Westmead which is below the light aircraft lane to the north of Bankstown . Float planes operate every day between Sydney Harbour and alighting areas in the Broken Bay and Hawkesbury River areas.

 

• There are four permanent parachute areas within the Sydney Basin - Wilton, Wollongong, Penrith Lakes and Warnervale.
• The busiest periods are on weekends and public holidays with drops during the week.
• Wilton, Wollongong and Penrith Lakes conduct drops from FL140, but depending on requirements drops may occur at lower altitudes and the aircraft broadcasts on 124.55.
• Warnervale conducts drops from FL140, but depending on requirements drops may occur at lower altitudes and the aircraft broadcasts on 125.8.
  

Wilton

• Parachute aircraft depart Wilton and climb to the south east, track back to Wilton for the drop and then descend over Wilton at a rapid rate for landing.

Wilton has its own danger area. Plan to avoid the area which is adjacent to the F5 freeway at Wilton. There may be 2 or more aircraft airborne at the same time with large numbers of parachutists on each aircraft.

Wollongong

• The parachute aircraft departs from Wollongong aerodrome and tracks to Flagstaff Point to the north for drop operations then descends back to Wollongong.
  

Situation awareness needs to be managed as an aircraft could transit the Wollongong CTAF northbound and not hear the drop call by the parachute aircraft.

Penrith Lakes

• The parachute aircraft departs from Hoxton Park, normally climbs via Warragamba on track to Penrith Lakes for the drop and then descends rapidly direct to Hoxton Park.
  

If tracking through the Richmond airspace southbound, be aware that parachute operations may be taking place.

Warnervale

• The parachute aircraft departs Warnervale aerodrome, climbs within the proximity of the aerodrome, drops the parachutists over Warnervale then descend rapidly back to the aerodrome.
  

 

Where do VCAs occur around Sydney ?

• Light aircraft lane north of Bankstown , with Sydney CTR to the east and the Richmond military airspace to the west leaves no room for navigational error.
• Aircraft north of Sydney infringe Controlled Airspace placing themselves in conflict with aircraft on final for runways 16R and 16L.
• Aircraft west of Sydney regularly clip the CTA steps on both climb and descend . If unable to remain OCTA advise Sydney radar.
• Aircraft east of Sydney contour fly in the Victor 1 route to the north of Maroubra placing themselves in conflict with the 25 approach and 07 departure paths.
• Aircraft east of Richmond aircraft infringe the Richmond Control Zone in the vicinity of Galston placing themselves in conflict with the Runway 28 ILS.
• Aircraft enter the Sydney CTR from the Bankstown circuit area if the downwind for runway 29 is extended or the aircraft is slow turning after departure from runway 11.
• Restricted area R555C has live firing or demolition to various altitudes so aircraft must plan to avoid the area. Track to the south and west of R555C.

Source: CASA Flight Safety Australia Nov – Dec 2001, article Lost in Controlled Airspace.

These reflect VCAs over a 12 month period for 2000.

 

There are numerous aerodromes and helipads with GPS approaches within the Sydney basin.

IFR aircraft routinely conduct GPS approaches.

 

Route Victor 1 allows an aircraft to track coastal clear of the Sydney Control Zone. Care must be taken not to contour fly as this conflicts with approach and departure procedures at Sydney airport. Be vigilant when leaving or joining Victor 1 as aircraft may be on different frequencies.

 

Several Restricted exist within the Sydney area, which include:

R555 Holsworthy R536 Kingswood R537 Richmond R541 Richmond

R555 Holsworthy

R555 is divided into 4 areas,.

• R555A
• R555B
• R555C
• R555D

ReferDAH and NOTAMs for times and altitudes.

The areas are used for live firing and demolition.

R536 Kingswood

R536 is divided into 2 areas.

• R536A
• R536B

Refer DAH for times and altitudes.

The areas are used for demolition.

 

Sydney Air Traffic Control responsible for the Sydney Basin area consists of the following positions.

• Flow control sequences the aircraft into Sydney .
• Approach North and approach South responsible for arriving aircraft .
• Director East and Director West responsible for spacing onto final approach
• Departures North and Departures South responsible for departures
• Departures West responsible for arrivals and departures at Bankstown
• Approach West responsible for the Richmond airspace above 1500ft
• Sydney Radar responsible for the service provided in class G airspace within 45nm of Sydney .
• Sydney Terminal is the first point of contact for aircraft wishing to enter controlled airspace

Each position has its own airspace but this varies depending on the runways in use at Sydney .

REMEMBER IF IN DOUBT ABOUT ANYTHING ASK RADAR ON 124.55.