FLEXIBLE/SPECIAL USAGE OF AIRSPACE (FUA)

The Air Traffic Management System should ensure equity for all airspace users that have acess to a given airspace or service. Thus, excluding emergency situations, which will always enjoy highest priority, the first aircraft ready to use the ATM resources will generally receive priority, except where significant overall safety or system operational efficiency would accrue by providing priority on a diffrent basis.

Access:

In addition the ATM system should provide an operating environment that ensures that all airspace users have the right of access to ATM resources needed to meet their specific operational requirements, and ensures that the shared use of the airspace for different airspace users can be achieved safely.

Concept:

The responsibility for the management of traffic flows within South African airspace will reside with the Central Airspace Management Unit (CAMU) which is established at the Johannesburg ATC Centre. The unit's responsibility will include, the management of the use of airspace as per user requirements, catering for military exercises, special and unusual events and any other activity which might require the use of airspace for a particular time period. This unit will also be responsible for the re-routing of traffic, effected by adverse weather and temporary restricted or special use airspace in consultation with operators and users in a collaborative decision making (CDM) process, as well as reducing delays caused by whatever reason at destination airports in co-operation with the relevant ATSUs.

In order to allow air traffic management to operate efficiently. All applications for special or flexible use of airspace, will be required to be routed via the CAMU for processing and dissemination of information to all affected stakeholders.

Practical application of the FUA will require applicants to observe a specific procedure and time scale, in order to allow the safe and effective use of airspace required, without impinging on the efficient and orderly flow of other air traffic.

The procedure consists of:

Strategic Component:

Which encompasses the long term planning of aircraft operations, such as schedule planning, large scale military exercises and special events. This includes but is not linmited to, airshows, fly-ins, competitions, air races etc.

In the event of significant changes to airspace or route structure being required to accommodate a specific use of airspace, for which AlP supplements need to be published, a lead-time of 70 days is required.

Should the planned event be conducted within a portion of existing managed airspace, without requiring significant change to route structures, 30 days prior notification is required in order to ensure the circulation of NOTAM and other relevant information.

Pre-tactical Component:

In which applicants for the use of airspace are required to confirm strategic service requests at least 48 hours before commencement of such operations. Airspace users engaged in normal operations, such as aerial surveys will be accommodated in this phase of planning for a particular period with at least 48 hours prior request for service. Tactical component: Encompassing normal day to day flight planned requirements and ATM procedures as catered for routinely or in accordance with specified agreed to flow management plans.

Ad hoc special requests for airspace usage on a short-term basis will be dealt with, within the tactical environment, but will require 7 hours prior application. Users making use of this option must note that although the request for airspace may be approved, the allocation of such airspace may not meet their specified location or time requirements for the operation.

Process of applying for FUA

Applications can be submitted to CAMU via any of the following facilities:

You are requested to preferably send in electronic format