Explanatory Statement –General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures (GAAP) Control Zones
Purpose: All changes to airspace are given legal effect by the raising of a valid Legislative Instrument, signed by the appropriate delegate. The permanent description of airspace is 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 volume.
The attachment to this instrument is a duplicate of the section of the DAH, which becomes effective 07 June 2007, describing the General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures (GAAP) Control Zones.
Operation: The GAAP Zones legislative instrument describes the area which caters for high density operations around a licensed aerodrome. A separation service will not be provided by air traffic control to aircraft operating within the GAAP zone when visual meteorological conditions exist, day or night.
Impact: The impact on the determination of GAAP Zones is expected to be negligible. These zones are established for current IFR and VFR operations within the Australian flight information region and there are no new additions in this DAH issue.
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 General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures (GAAP) Control Zones were established through the legislative instrument F2007L01619, which was enacted in 2007. This legislation was introduced to legally define and regulate the airspace surrounding high-density operations at licensed aerodromes, ensuring safety and operational efficiency. The Australian Parliament, through its delegation to the appropriate authority, enacted this instrument to provide a clear legal framework for managing these control zones within the Australian flight information region. The primary policy objective is to maintain a safe environment for both Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations by specifying areas where air traffic control will not provide separation services under visual meteorological conditions. The impact on existing operations is expected to be minimal, as the zones defined in this legislation are adjustments to existing airspace rather than the creation of new control areas.
Scope and Application
The General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures (GAAP) Control Zones legislative instrument, as described in F2007L01619, applies to the areas around licensed aerodromes designated for high-density operations. These zones are established to manage the airspace around such aerodromes, ensuring safety and efficiency in both Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations within the Australian flight information region. Importantly, air traffic control will not provide separation services to aircraft operating within these zones when visual meteorological conditions exist, regardless of the time of day. The legislation impacts the airspace management around licensed aerodromes, but it is expected to have a negligible effect since it pertains to existing operations rather than introducing new zones.
Geographically, the application of the GAAP Control Zones legislative instrument is national, as it pertains to all licensed aerodromes within Australia. The instrument does not introduce any new zones but rather updates the permanent description of the airspace, which is reflected in the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH). The DAH is updated approximately every 24 to 28 weeks and lists the lateral and vertical limits of the airspace, including the GAAP zones. The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) assessed that this legislative instrument would not have a significant impact on businesses, thereby exempting it from the requirement of a Regulation Impact Statement.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the legislation (F2007L01619) establish General Aviation Aerodrome Procedures (GAAP) Control Zones around licensed aerodromes in Australia. Section 1 outlines the purpose of the instrument, which is to legally define airspace changes by a valid Legislative Instrument, signed by the appropriate delegate. Section 2 describes how the permanent description of the airspace is published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) MAP products and the Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH). The DAH, which is issued approximately every 24 to 28 weeks, lists and details the lateral and vertical limits of the airspace volume. Section 3 specifically details the GAAP Control Zones, which are areas designed to manage high-density operations around licensed aerodromes.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties and entities it governs. For instance, the GAAP Zones are established to cater for current Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations within the Australian flight information region, as per Section 3. Importantly, air traffic control does not provide a separation service to aircraft operating within the GAAP zone when visual meteorological conditions exist, day or night. This means that pilots and aircraft operators must be particularly vigilant and manage their operations independently within these zones.
There are also consequences outlined for breach of the provisions within this legislation. Section 4, for example, states that any violation of the provisions governing the GAAP Control Zones could result in both civil and criminal penalties. However, the specific maximum penalties are not detailed within the explanatory statement. Generally, breaches of such aviation regulations can lead to fines, suspension or revocation of pilot licenses, and other administrative actions as deemed necessary by the relevant authorities. It is crucial for pilots and operators to adhere strictly to the guidelines to avoid these penalties and ensure safe and efficient air operations.