Surveillance Flight Information Service

Airservices is introducing enhanced traffic services, in Class G airspace, through the provision of the Surveillance Flight Information Service (SFIS) at selected regional non-towered aerodromes across Australia.

The SFIS is the provision of traffic information to IFR/IFR, IFR/VFR, and VFR/VFR aircraft operating within a CASA declared broadcast area using the aerodrome’s discrete Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF).

All aircraft operating in the aerodrome’s broadcast area will be required to comply with existing CTAF and Class G rules and recommendations. Aircraft will also be required to broadcast their intentions to enable the SFIS controller operator to provide aircrew with an enhanced traffic service, improve situational awareness, and reduce cockpit workload when operating in close proximity, during busy times.

Airservices introduced the first enhanced traffic service at Ballina, New South Wales on 12 August 2021.

Airservices has been working with industry to introduce the Surveillance Flight Information Service Mangalore (SFIS MNG) to reduce the elevated risk level identified in the designated airspace volume surrounding Mangalore Airport (YMNG).

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Office of Airspace Regulation (CASA OAR) has recently announced that it is conducting an Aeronautical Study of the airspace around Mangalore, extending 25 nautical miles from YMNG. As such, Airservices will be pausing the proposed introduction of SFIS MNG until the independent Aeronautical Study is complete. Airservices will use the outcomes from the review to inform what options are available to provide services to our Mangalore customers.

We encourage you to provide your feedback into this Aeronautical Study, which is available at https://consultation.casa.gov.au/stakeholder-engagement-group/mangalore-aeronautical-study/

SFIS Snapshot:

• SFIS will be provided proactively to IFR and VFR aircraft operating in the non-towered aerodrome’s designated broadcast area using the discrete CTAF
• SFIS will be delivered by controllers, situated remotely in either Brisbane or Melbourne Air Traffic Service Centres (ATSC).
• SFIS is not a separation service and it does not sequence aircraft into an aerodrome.
• SFIS will be operated during prescribed hours of operation, and times will be based on the requirements of each operating environment.
• SFIS will complete post implementation reviews after 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, and 12 months.
• The introduction of SFIS will be subject to an issue of an instrument by CASA.

AIP Supplements:

The AIP Supplement for Ballina (H88/21) is available - please refer to the Aeronautical Information Package(External link).

Presentations (PDF and video recording) are available for your information and reference. These can be found on the right side of the page, under ‘Presentations’.

Ballina SFIS 1-Month Post Implementation Review (PIR) Summary: 

Thank you to all the operators who provided feedback to the Ballina SFIS 1-month PIR. The following list is a high-level summary of key findings for your information.

1. Frequency congestion and increased radio transmissions
2. Non-compliance with mandatory broadcast requirements per AIP SUP H88/21
3. Radio calls are non-standard, inconsistent, or intermittent
4. Low flight planning numbers for VFR operators
5. Superfluous radio calls due ongoing communications issues (including line of sight, over-transmissions, and/or pilot etiquette)

Note: Low traffic numbers observed due to COVID LGA lockdown.

The SFIS Safety Risk Working Group (SRWG) reviews all PIR responses and works directly with operators to continuously improve the service provision in the Ballina MBA.

We look forward to receiving your responses to the next SFIS PIR survey, via the form below, which closes on Friday, 28 January 2022.

Contact: 

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact our team by emailing ContactAMP@AirservicesAustralia.com(External link). If you would prefer a phone call, please include your best contact number in the email.