Cross Border Airspace Management

Scope

This Operational Guideline outlines airspace management procedures relating to aviation interstate cross border operations.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

• Cross border airspace arrangements are to be instigated between jurisdictional border agencies when fire activity is occurring within 15 kilometres of a jurisdictional border and firefighting aircraft are involved.
• The controlling State Air Desk (SAD) will be determined in consultation with the cross border SAD’s impacted by the incident.
• The controlling SAD shall advise a neighbouring SAD of an actual or potential aerial fire-fighting operation being undertaken near a State/Territory border. This advice must include:
  • Dispatch aircraft call signs.
  • Allocated Fire Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (FCTAF).
  • Location of the fire.
  • Specific operations being undertaken.
  • Designated air bases and/or reloading facilities.
  • Location and contact details for the responsible Incident Management Team (IMT).
• Both SADs involved in the cross border operations will establish periodic contact whilst ever cross border operations are occurring.

Airspace management operations

• The following airspace management procedures are to be initiated by the controlling SAD on dispatch of the first fire-bombing aircraft.
  • Clarify the controlling IMT/Incident Controller (IC) and appointed FCTAF’s.
  • Maintain regular communication between respective SAD’s, including confirmation of agreed mutual response and release of aircraft.
  • The controlling SAD may initiate an Air Attack Supervisor (AAS) when any fire-bombing aircraft is dispatched to operations within the confirmed mutual response or cross border area.
    • The requirement for an AAS is made in consultation with cross border SAD.
    • In circumstances where it has been confirmed that no cross border aircraft are operating, RFS will determine the need for aerial supervision in accordance with existing doctrine.
  • The respective SADs shall ensure all AAS and dispatched aircraft are briefed on all relevant information including FCTAF and ground communications.
  • All dispatched aircraft, are to initiate a mandatory 5NM inbound radio call to be cleared into the airspace; with Large Air Tankers (LAT) requiring an additional 10NM inbound radio call.  If no contact can be established, the tasked aircraft is to remain outside the 5 NM radius.
  • Consider issuing an incident Notice to Airmen (NOTAM  ) if agreed upon by the respective SADs in adjoining jurisdictions.
  • Initiate a Temporary Danger Area (TDA) or Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) if respective SADs are in agreeance.
    • If there are multiple fires conflicting in the designated mutual response area or encompassing both sides of the jurisdictional border, the SADs will initiate a TRA via the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR) encompassing all aircraft operations. Under CASA OAR requirements, an individual SAD may act as an airspace controlling authority for their respective operation.
• The IC will establish an Air Operations Unit to ensure ongoing ground to air communications (via a communications plan in the Incident Action Plan (IAP)).
• As activity increases, SAD or IMT may also consider conducting an Air Operations Complexity Analysis (outlined in Appendix 1), to determine the requirement for an Air Operations Manager (AOM).
  • An AOM can be appointed by the IC at any time.

Special Considerations

• Nil.

Related Information

Appendix One

The checklist below has been adapted to align with the Interagency Aviation Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and is based on the NAFC Cross Border Airspace Management Air Operations Complexity Analysis Checklist.