Skip to content

Townsville TCU

Positions

Name ID Callsign Frequency Login ID
Townsville Approach TLA Townsville Approach 126.800 TL_APP

Note

Townsville TCU is a joint military/civil TCU and procedures can differ significantly to those in a civil TCU. Ensure you are familiar with the military controller skills necessary to provide a quality service.

Airspace

TL TCU owns the Class C and G airspace within 36 DME TL from SFC to F180

TL TCU Structure

TL TCU Structure

TL ADC

TL ADC owns the Class C airspace in the TL MIL CTR SFC to A015.

Restricted Area Activations

There are no restricted areas or MOAs activated by default when TLA is online.

SUA in Enroute Airspace

Military operations taking place in SUA in enroute airspace are outside the jurisdiction of TL TCU.

Upon receiving airways clearance coordination from ACD of an aircraft intending to operate in a currently inactive SUA in enroute airspace, TL TCU must give heads up coordination to relevant enroute controllers.

This gives the enroute controller sufficient time to assess the request, make necessary adjustments to any aircraft in the area currently, and activate the SUA; or alternately to refuse the activation request before the aircraft is in the air.

Phraseology

PTHR11 is requesting clearance to operate in the R560A restricted area.
TL ACD -> TLA: "PSSM31 requests clearance to M742”
TLA -> TL ACD: "Standby, call you back."

TLA -> TBP: "On the groud YBTL, PSSM31, requests activation of M742 A040-F240, from 0300 until 0500.”
TBP -> TLA: "PSSM31, expect activation of M742 A040-F240 at 0300 until 0500."
TLA -> TBP: "PSSM31."

TLA -> TL ACD: "PSSM31, clearance approved."
TL ACD -> TLA: "Clearance approved, PSSM31"

Note

The requirement to coordinate activation of an SUA is in addition to existing coordination requirements. Heads-up coordination is still required for these aircraft if they do not meet the voiceless coordination criteria.

Local Procedures

Initial and Pitch

The intial points are 5NM from the ARP, displaced 1,000 feet laterally to the dead side of the runway, A025.

Aircraft arriving Runway 19 should be assigned either a left initial or right initial; a straight initial is not available due to high terrain over Magnetic Island.

Aircraft arriving Runway 01 should be assigned either a left initial, standard right initial, or close right initial. On a close right initial aircraft will track north of Mt Stuart, as opposed to aircraft tracking on a standard right initial, who pass Mt Stuart to the south.

Military Gates

There are numerous military gates established throughout the TL TCU to facilitate entry and exit to adjoining SUA.

TL SUA Gates

TL SUA Gates

If the pilot does not nominate a gate, or nominates a gate that does not provide access to their intended SUA, TL ACD should clear the aircraft to depart via the appropriate gate.

| Intended SUA | TCU Exit Gate | TCU Entry Gate | | --------------- | -------------------- | | M742 | KAGES (RWY 01 DEP)
REGIN (RWY 19 DEP) | REGIN (RWY 01 ARR)
KAGES (RWY 19 ARR) | | R736 | TANGO | SIERRA | | R738A-H | TANGO | SIERRA | | R738G-H | TANGO | SIERRA | | R732 | TANGO | SIERRA | | R739 | TANGO | SIERRA | | R747 | N/A | N/A | | R751 | TANGO | SALSA (if R752 inactive)
JOCKO (if R752 active) | | R752 | TANGO | JOCKO |

Tip

Coordination requirements exist between ACD and TCU when aircraft are requesting clearance to operate in an SUA that has not been activated. Controllers performing the role of ACD should ensure they coordinate with TCU before providing clearance.

Special Use Airspace

Notable SUA in the TL TMA

Notable SUA in the TL TMA

D764 Townsville

The D764 Townsville danger area, also known as the Bluewater Training Area, is a commonly used training area west of YBTL.

Aircraft departing to the training area will be cleared a 'BLUEWATER' clearance. This clearance gives aircraft permission depart the TL MIL CTR, and transit to the D764 danger area via the appropriate track while remaining OCTA.

Duty RWY Direction Tracking Notes
RWY 01 Outbound YBTL-via coast remaining over land-D764 Not above A015 until within D764
RWY 01 Inbound D764-YBU-YBTL
RWY 19 Outbound YBTL-YBU-D764 Not above A015 until within D764
RWY 19 Inbound D764-via coast remaining over land-YBTL

Aircraft intending to return to YBTL from the training area will contact TLA if intending to transit above A015 (within TCU CTA). All other aircraft will remain OCTA and request inbound clearance directly from TL ADC.

Phraseology

ABC: "Townsville Approach, ABC within D764, for YBTL, request clearance at A035.”
TLA: "ABC, Townsville Approach, cleared BLUEWATER, maintain A035. Abeam MBKR contact Townsville Tower on 118.3"
ABC: "Cleared Bluewater, Maintain A035, abeam MBKR contact Townsville Tower 118.3, ABC."

Note

TLA shall write the coded clearance in the global ops field prior to issuing clearance, for the awareness of other controllers.

M742 Tiger

The M742 Tiger MOA is located off the coast, A040-F240, spanning both TL TCU and KEN(TBP) airspace.

Aircraft will generally enter and exit the MOA via the appropriate military gate.

R736 & R739 Townsville (Star)

The R736 and R739 Townsville (Star) restricted areas straddle the border of the TL TCU and KEN(TBP) airspace.

It is predominantly used for military training operations, including operations at the Star Landing Area ALA (YSTD).

Aircraft will generally enter and exit the MOA via the appropriate military gate.

Affected Civil Operations

When R739 is activated above A060 it disrupts aircraft tracking via the CATEY SID. Aircraft may be given an additional requirement to climb above the vertical limits of the activation, or rerouted manually to avoid the area.

Phraseology

UTY640 has departed YBTL RWY 01 on the CATEY SID, bound for YCCY. The R739 restricted area has been activated SFC-A085.
TLA: "UTY640, Townsville Approach, identified. Climb via SID to F180, requirement to reach A100 by ENSOM."
UTY640: "Climb via SID to F180, requirement to reach A100 by ENSOM, UTY640."

R738A-H Townsville (Land)

The R738A-H Townsville (Land) restricted areas, also known as the Townsville Field Training Area, is a series of defined airspace volumes west of YBTL, A070-NOTAM.

The area is used for a wide array of military training operations, including supersonic flight, air-to-air combat training, and live fire exercises. The extent of activation required will vary according to each operation, but will generally include R738A or R738B, along with an additional larger subsection.

Aircraft will generally enter and exit the MOA via the appropriate military gate.

Affected Civil Operations

Activation of R738A disrupts aircraft tracking via the CATEY SID. Aircraft intending to depart via CATEY should instead be cleared via CARMN (to the north) or ANRUB (to the south).

R747 Rattlesnake Island

The R747 Rattlesnake Island restricted area is defined by a 5nm radius circle with RKI at the centre, SFC-NOTAM. The area is predominantly used for ground, amphibious, and helicopter gunnery training.

When activated, the restricted area prevents aircraft from tracking via the RATTLESNAKE coded clearance to YPAM. These aircraft must be given alternate tracking instructions to avoid the SUA.

R751 & R752 Townsville (High Range)

The R751 and R752 Townsville (High Range) restricted areas is located in the south-west of TCU, spanning both TL TCU and KEN(TBP) airspace.

Aircraft will generally enter and exit the MOA via the appropriate military gate.

R768A Mt Stuart

The R768A Mt Stuart restricted area is a non-flying SUA located on the south boundary of the TL MIL CTR, SFC-A020. It is activated daily from 2100-1200 UTC.

All instrument approaches for Runway 01 and Runway 19 SIDs are procedurally separated from the restricted area. All other aircraft should be separated, when activated.

Flow

Local Knowledge

  • Aircraft may be assigned the Papa STAR to reduce track miles
  • During VMC by day, aircraft may be instructed to track for a visual base to either runway
  • With RWY 01 in use, small non-jet aircraft may be processed to RWY 07 via either a VSA or RNP

Flow Tables

The tables below give an estimated time in minutes from the Feeder Fix to the Threshold.

STAR RWY 01 RWY 19
IBUXI A 16 -
IBUXI Z - 11^
IGIKI A
Feeder Fix: 36 DME TL
14
-
POROB A 13 -
POROB B - 13
POROB P 11^ 11^
POROB Z - 13
VOMPA A 10^ -
VOMPA B - 15
VOMPA P 10^ 13
VOMPA Z - 15
STAR RWY 01 RWY 19
IBUXI A 19 -
IBUXI Z - 12^
IGIKI A
Feeder Fix: 36 DME TL
16
-
POROB A 14 -
POROB B - 15
POROB P 12^ 13^
POROB Z - 14
VOMPA A 11^ -
VOMPA B - 17
VOMPA P 11^ 15
VOMPA Z - 16

Corrections

Situation Correction
Assigned a reduced speed +1 min, except ^
Over 40kt of head/tailwind component +1 min for headwind
-1 min for tailwind

Assumptions

  • Nil wind
  • The feeder fix for all STARs is the waypoint coinciding with the title of the STAR, except:
    • The feeder fix for the IGIKI STAR is 36 DME TL (where it intersects with the STAR track)

Calculator

The following calculator will generate a landing time from a feeder fix ETA, or the reverse.

Coordination

Enroute

Departures

Voiceless for all aircraft:

  • Tracking via a Procedural SID terminus; and
  • Assigned the lower of F180 or the RFL

Note

Aircraft are not required to be tracking via the SID procedure, simply tracking via any of the terminus waypoints (regardless of departure airport or assigned SID) is sufficient to meet the criteria for voiceless coordination.

All other aircraft going to KEN(TBP) CTA must be Heads-up coordinated by TL TCU prior to the boundary.

Phraseology

TLA -> TBP: "JST729, with your concurrence, will be assigned F160, for my separation with QLK327D"
TBP -> TLA: "JST729, concur F160"

Arrivals

Voiceless for all aircraft:

  • With ADES YBTL; and
  • Assigned a STAR; and
  • Assigned A090

All other aircraft coming from KEN(TBP) CTA will be Heads-up coordinated to TL TCU.

TL ADC

Airspace

TL ADC owns the Class C airspace in the TL CTR from SFC to A015.

Auto Release

Next coordination is not required from TL ADC to TL TCU for aircraft that are:

  • Departing from a runway nominated in the ATIS; and
  • Assigned the standard assignable level; and
  • Assigned a Procedural SID

All other aircraft require a 'Next' call to TL TCU.

The Standard Assignable level from TL ADC to TL TCU is:

Aircraft Level
All The lower of F180 and RFL

ACD to TL TCU

The controller assuming responsibility of ACD shall give heads-up coordination to TLA (or the enroute controller responsible for the TL TCU) prior to the issue of a clearance to an aircraft intending to operate in an SUA that has not been activated.

Phraseology

TL ACD -> TLA: "PSSM31 requests clearance to M742”
TLA -> TL ACD: "PSSM31, clearance approved."

Charts

Reference

In addition to the civilian ERSA and AIP publications, the RAAF AIP website contains the necessary charts (available in the TERMA) and description of procedures (in each airports' FIHA).