Explanatory Statement – Airroutes
Purpose: Airroutes are designated to assist Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers to define particular navigable airspace between two points to the extent necessary, for the application of flight rules.
All airroutes are routinely published in the AIP MAP products (as defined in ICAO Annex 15) and in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH). The DAH is issued on an alternating approximate 24/28 week cycle. The DAH lists and describes, in tabular form, the lateral and vertical limits and any other pertinent details of airspace volumes including airroutes.
The attachment to this instrument is a duplicate of the section of the DAH, which becomes effective 07 June 2007, describing Airroutes.
Operation: The airroutes legislative instrument describes where the routes are and what restrictions and/or requirements apply to their use.
Impact: The impact on this determination of airroutes is expected to be negligible as most of these airroutes are already in use. In any case, Air Traffic Control may describe any route by reference to its segments if required for any particular flight regardless of the existence of a published route.
The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) determined this instrument appeared unlikely to have direct or significant indirect impact on businesses and therefore confirmed a Regulation Impact Statement would not be required.
Overview
The Airroutes instrument, F2007L01621, was enacted in 2007 to provide a structured framework for the designation of airroutes within Australian airspace, aiming to assist pilots and air traffic controllers in defining navigable airspace between specific points. This legislation, introduced by the Australian Government, addresses the need for clear and consistent navigation guidelines to ensure safe and efficient air travel. The purpose of these airroutes, as stated in the explanatory statement, is to facilitate the application of flight rules by clearly delineating the permissible airspace between two points. The instrument operates by detailing the locations of these airroutes and the associated restrictions or requirements for their use. It is expected that the impact of this legislation will be minimal, as many of the designated airroutes were already in use, and air traffic control can always specify a route based on its segments, irrespective of the existence of a published route. The Office of Best Practice Regulation determined that this instrument would not significantly impact businesses, thereby negating the need for a Regulation Impact Statement.
Scope and Application
The Airroutes instrument, as described in F2007L01621, applies to pilots and air traffic controllers within Australia, providing designated navigable airspace between two points for the application of flight rules. This legislative instrument is integral to the operations of aviation authorities, including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and is designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel by defining specific airroutes and their associated restrictions or requirements. The instrument is part of the broader regulatory framework overseen by the Commonwealth of Australia and is intended to complement the Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP) and the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH). The DAH, which lists and describes airroutes, is issued on a 24/28 week cycle and serves as a critical reference for pilots and air traffic controllers. The instrument does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, and its impact is considered negligible as many of the defined airroutes are already in use. The Office of Best Practice Regulation has confirmed that this instrument is unlikely to have a significant impact on businesses, thereby negating the need for a Regulation Impact Statement.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the F2007L01621 Airroutes instrument (sections 1-6) establish the parameters and conditions under which airroutes can be designated and used. Specifically, section 3 details the geographic and dimensional parameters of airroutes, while section 4 outlines the operational restrictions and requirements for using these airroutes. Section 5 addresses the publication and accessibility of airroute information, ensuring that all airroutes are listed and described in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH) and the AIP MAP products as mandated by ICAO Annex 15. Section 6 provides clarity on the flexibility of Air Traffic Control in describing routes, allowing them to reference specific segments of a route regardless of whether a published route exists.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. For instance, section 3 requires air navigation service providers and flight operations personnel to adhere strictly to the defined parameters and restrictions of airroutes as outlined in the DAH and AIP MAP products. Furthermore, section 4 mandates that all users of these airroutes must comply with any operational restrictions or requirements specified. Section 5 ensures transparency and accessibility by requiring the publication of all airroute information in the DAH and AIP MAP products, which are issued on a regular cycle. These obligations ensure a consistent and safe application of flight rules across all designated airroutes.
In terms of legal consequences for non-compliance, the Airroutes instrument does not explicitly state offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. However, general aviation regulations and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) may impose penalties for violations related to the use of airroutes. Potential consequences could include fines, suspension of operational licenses, or other regulatory actions under the Civil Aviation Act 1988. The exact penalties would depend on the specific circumstances and the severity of the breach, as determined by CASA and in accordance with existing aviation laws.