The New South Wales Rural Fire Service did not have a procedure to implement a temporary restricted area to reduce the risk of an air proximity event with aircraft not associated with firefighting operations.
The ATSB is satisfied that the implementation of a structured framework for risk‑based TRA activation, including procedural triggers, adequately addressed the safety issue.
In partnership with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the NSW RFS implemented interim Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) activation protocols in November 2023, enabling rapid establishment of restricted zones during complex or high-density operations. The Aviation Airspace Management Plan (finalised in 2024) expanded these arrangements into a structured framework for risk-based TRA activation, including procedural triggers, approval pathways, and notification templates. The procedural triggers are included in the Fire Response Airspace Matrix Operational Guideline, which was finalised and approved on 25 November 2025.
