Australian Future Airspace Framework
Emerging aviation technologies are introducing new airspace users and capabilities into the airspace system, leading to increasing and novel national airspace resource demands and challenges.
The Australian Future Airspace Framework (AFAF) addresses rising demands and challenges to ensure safe, efficient and accessible Australian-administered airspace.
CASA is developing and implementing AFAF, informed by collaboration with a wide range of airspace stakeholders and facilitated through a Technical Working Group. It uses quantitative and qualitative data to guide decision making and includes a Long-Term Strategic Airspace Plan (LTSAP) to record changes.
Planning for vertiport operations
If you're in the early stages of vertiport development, CASA is already providing guidance. Advisory Circular AC139.V-01 outlines initial vertiport design standards for visual flight crewed flights. Work is underway to expand this to instrument flight operations.
If your site supports helicopter operations, you can be combine it with AC139.R-01.
Choosing where to put a vertiport involves land-use planning. Land-use planning provisions may differ between states and territories. CASA provides guidance that supports engagement with local planning authorities.
How aircraft safely enter airspace is a key part of managing the sky. A vertiport operator's understanding of how aircraft integrate into local airspace will guide the planning and design of the landing site. As aircraft move beyond visual flight, instrument flight procedures will shape the facilities and infrastructure required.
Vertiport operators are responsible for controlling access to the site to keep the manoeuvring of aircraft, take-offs and landings safe. Once the aircraft is in the air, they are not in control of the flight.
Building a foundation for UTM
The UAS Traffic Management (UTM) is a system that supports drone operations. It offers tools for planning, approvals and keeping track of what's in the air.
UTM includes services, rules, systems and ways to share data. It helps government, industry and the public manage drone use. UTM supports both commercial and recreational users.
CASA supports new ideas in UTM by using non-prescriptive rules. This gives providers, like drone safety apps and UAS Service Suppliers, the flexibility to create tailored, user-friendly solutions. Many already offer tools like checklists, workflows and situational awareness features to help operators follow the rules more easily.
Airservices Australia will deliver four initial services through its Flight Information Management System (FIMS).
Initial services include:
- airspace authorisation - for operations up to 400 ft AGL in selected controlled airspace
- airspace awareness - with real-time data on airspace boundaries and restrictions
- operational planning - for creating, managing and refining flight plans
- strategic coordination - to support awareness of overlapping operations.
UTM will be an ecosystem that enables the streamlining of regulatory services tasks as well as providing situational awareness of other air and ground-based users. It enables digital coordination between operators, the regulator, and service providers through real-time data exchange, helping to automate flight approvals and reduce manual oversight.
Exploring next steps for ADS-B
The Australian Government has formed a cross-agency working group, including CASA, to assess options for mandating ADS-B across both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
Consultation on the discussion paper opened on 15 September 2025.
Assessing airspace change needs
CASA's Office of Airspace Regulation conducts careful risk assessments and reviews before making changes to controlled or uncontrolled airspace. We make these changes to enhance safety and reduce airspace risks.
When CASA needs to make a change, it uses its set process. This process can take years, especially when upgrading from uncontrolled to controlled airspace. We make changes in stages before implementing the final change.
Check for updates online
You can stay up to date on Roadmap activities through our website, where we publish regular updates on projects, milestones and progress.
