Reporter's deidentified concern
The reporter, an operator of Civil Aviation Safety Regulation (CASR) Part 135 air transport operations, has documented a series of concerns with the newly revised Sydney airspace arrangements affecting IFR aircraft inbound to Bankstown Airport.
Citing an example of an inbound charter flight where the pilot experienced task compression and ambiguous ATC instructions that contributed to a misconfigured Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approach, the reporter has identified the following safety concerns during their analysis of the occurrence.
- Task compression during the arrival phase: Limited time remained to select, activate and verify the complete instrument approach before commencing it.
- Ambiguity created by simultaneous instrument and visual expectations: Advice to expect an RNP approach while also indicating that the aerodrome may be visual contributed to delayed approach preparation.
- GPS/FMS procedure-selection vulnerability: Display of the expected first waypoint provided an apparent confirmation despite the complete procedure not being correctly loaded.
- Flight-path deviation: The incorrect procedure selection translated directly into an unintended turn towards PILAK (waypoint).
- Competing visual and instrument-monitoring tasks: The pilot was assessing outside visual references while the unintended turn commenced.
- Single-pilot workload: Airspace management, ATC communications, approach programming, navigation verification and visual assessment occurred in close succession.
- Dependence on ATC intervention as an error trap: ATC's query assisted in identifying the deviation before it progressed further.
- Reduced error-detection margins: The compressed sequence reduced the time available for the pilot to identify and correct the programming error before it affected the aircraft trajectory.
Ultimately, while the reporter accepts that the occurrence resulted from individual action, they remain concerned that the present airspace design and procedures contribute to an increased risk of such events, and thus a broader decrease in operational safety for all users of this airspace.
Named party's response
Airservices Response: RA2026-00134
The IFR path for arrivals from the north via Z88 (Air route) was designed to link with the RNP-N for YSBK (Bankstown) at waypoint NIXOD. The design attempted to simplify the procedure and allow preparation time for operators before starting the flight. It is expected operators will utilise this simplification and plan for a clearance via the RNP-N or, if conditions allow, a visual clearance via NIXOD to expedite the transit.
The controllers will attempt to provide the safest and briefest flight path possible (traffic and other factors- dependent) and whilst the RNP approach may be issued, the controller may provide the pilot notification that a more direct visual approach may be available. The pilot in command is able to decide if they accept such an option, however our controllers will continue to provide these options.
The report makes specific mention of issues created due to short preparation for the expected published procedures. Airservices would like to note, an extensive safety assessment was done in cooperation with Bankstown operators where hazards were identified and controls were implemented for the new Controlled Airspace layout in the Sydney basin. With an ATC service being one of those controls, this report identifies the controls for the hazard of unintended aircraft deviations in controlled airspace were effective.
Regulator's response
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts, and Airservices undertook a program of industry consultation during the design phases and in the lead up to the implementation of the airspace change. Following the implementation of the changes industry have provided feedback about several concerns about the airspace changes in the Sydney Basin including the issue raised in the ATSB REPCON Request RA2026-00134. CASA expects that Airservices will review this report in their Post Implementation Review of the Sydney airspace changes.
REPCON details
| Date reported | 01/09/2026 |
|---|---|
| Published date | 23/10/2026 |
| Affected operation/industry | Airspace |
| Concern subject type | Design |
| Transport mode | Aviation |