Australian airspace is structured similar to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The aeronautical information publication (AIP) defines the different classes of airspace in Australia. The table below summarises AIP ENR 1.4:
Class | Type of flight | Separation provided | Service provided | Speed limitation | Radio communication requirements | SUBJ ATC CLR |
A | IFR | All aircraft | ATC service | N/A | Continuous two-way | YES |
VFR not permitted (see AIP ENR 1.7) | ||||||
C | IFR | IFR from IFR, IFR from VFR IFR from Special VFR | ATC service | 250 kt below 10,000 ft AMSL, except where specified in ERSA, DAP or varied by ATC (see note 2) | Continuous two-way | YES |
VFR | VFR from IFR | ATC service for separation from IFR VFR/VFR traffic INFO (and traffic avoidance advice on request) |
250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | Continuous two-way | YES | |
Special VFR | Special VFR from special VFR, when VIS does not meet VMC | ATC service | Continuous two-way | YES | ||
D | IFR | IFR from IFR IFR from special VFR | ATC service, traffic information about VFR flights | 200 kt IAS at or below 2500 ft AAL within 4 nm of the primary Class D aerodrome (see note 3) 250 kt IAS in the remaining Class D airspace |
Continuous two-way | YES |
VFR | Nil | ATC service, traffic INFO on all other flights | Continuous two-way | YES | ||
Special VFR | Special VFR from special VFR when visibility is less than VMC | ATC service | Continuous two-way | YES | ||
E | IFR | IFR from IFR | ATC service and traffic info on VFR flights as far as is practicable | 250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | Continuous two-way | YES |
VFR | Nil | FIS SIS—flight following O/R (ATC workload permit) |
250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | Continuous two-way | NO | |
G N* |
Nil | FIS | 250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | 250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | Continuous two-way | NO |
Nil | FIS SIS—flight following O/R (ATC workload permitting) |
250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | 250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | VHF radio required for ops above 5000 ft AMSL and at aerodromes where carriage and use of radio is required |
NO | |
250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | 250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | VHF radio required for ops in reduced VMC |
NO | |||
G S† |
IFR | Nil | FIS O/R | 250 kt IAS below 10 000 ft AMSL | Continuous two-way | NO |
VFR | Nil | FIS O/R | 250 kt IAS below 10,000 ft AMSL | Nil | NO |
Notes
- if a radio is fitted to an aircraft it must be serviceable even though the carriage of a radio may
not be mandatory - N* = on and north of 65° south
- S† = south of 65° south
- ATC can vary the speed at their discretion.