The implementation day for Australia switching off Navaids remains the same: 26MAY2016, but the GPS requirements are relaxed – a little – especially for foreign private operators.

If you’re Australia based:

• You’ll have seen this coming and will already be RNP1/2 compliant. CASA has no exceptions.

 

If you’re a Foreign Operator and have RNP1/2:

• After 26MAY2016, if you’re RNP1/2 compliant, put it in the Flight Plan (read on), and that’s about it.

 

If you’re a Foreign Operator and you don’t have RNP1/2:

• Australia has a Two Year Transition for Foreign Operators after 26MAY
• An “Acceptable Means of Compliance” is contained in CASA EX06/16
• Notify CASA in advance using Form “Notification to operate aircraft on RNP 2 routes and/or RNP 1 procedures using GNSS based RNAV 1 & RNAV 2”
• If you are a non-commercial operator – ie. operating a Private flight, then compliance is not mandatory. According to CASA, through a release to IBAC, “Only commercial operators that can comply with the requirements and want RNP 1 and RNP 2 traffic services are required to apply for an exemption. “

 

Flight Planning:

• If you have RNP2 – put GRZ in Field 10a and NAV/RNP2 in Field 18.
• If you don’t, then you must operate according to Australia’s “Acceptable Means of Compliance” and put RMK/CASA RNP AMC in Field 18.
• If you don’t, and you’re a private operator, probably worth a RMK/NEG RNP PVT FLT or similar.
• Keep an eye on the charts – a bunch of new 5 letter waypoints are coming, to replace the VOR’s and NDB’s being switched off.

Reference:

• CASA General Guidance on transition

 

On the 26th of May, Australia will switch off around 180 different VOR’s, NDB’s, and other ground-based Navaids. Those that escape the cull – about 245 of them – will form the basis of their new “Backup Navigation Network”, or BNN.

For International Operators, in short, Australia wants you to navigate with GNSS as your primary means of navigation. The new standards, from 26MAY, are:

• Oceanic Routes: RNP4 if able, otherwise RNP10
• Continental Routes: RNP2
• SIDs and STARs: RNP1
• Non Precision approaches: RNP APCH (ie. RNAV(GNSS)

CASA will issue an exemption if you have an existing RNAV1 or RNAV2 approval based on GNSS from your National Authority, but you must have either the above RNP capabilities, or the exemption, to operate in Australian Airspace from 26MAY.

Further reading:

• Australia AIC 10/16
• Australia AIC 11/16