Bankstown Airspace Changes – What You Need to Know come July 9th

Airservices Australia is implementing a redesign of the Bankstown (YSBK) Control Zone, reshaping how VFR pilots — both fixed-wing and rotary — access and transit the Sydney basin. The changes affect the CTR boundary itself, the structure of established VFR lanes, and the introduction of new routes. Here's a breakdown of what we know ahead of the 9 July effective date.

CTR Boundary Redesign

The lateral boundary of the YSBK CTR is being redrawn, with the zone extended to the north and west. The new boundary takes effect simultaneously with all lane and procedural changes on 9 July. Pilots familiar with the current Class D footprint should expect the airspace to look different on EFB applications — ensure your charts and apps are updated before flying.

Clearances, Flight Plans & Transponders

Flight plans are necessary for all departures from and arrivals to the Bankstown CTR that transit through Class C or Class D airspace. Clearances must be obtained from Bankstown Ground (119.9) on the ground before taxiing (or from Sydney Centre 124.55 if Bankstown Tower is closed), or if inbound, in Class G airspace before entering a CTA. Flight plans are not required for operations restricted to the YSBK CTR.

Every aircraft flying within the Class D or Class C airspaces around YSBK will receive a unique SSR code, typically assigned when a clearance is requested. This SSR code is automatically generated upon lodging a flight plan, so requesting clearance without a flight plan may cause delays. It will be mandatory to carry a working transponder (preferably Mode C or ADSB) for operations in and around YSBK.

VFR Lane Changes

All lanes below operate as Class D . You must lodge a flight plan stipulating the tracking points on the route. A clearance and discrete SSR code is required with ATC service provided by Bankstown Approach on frequency 125.80, with all routes being flown at 1500ft AMSL

Northern Lanes

• Minor variation to existing Bankstown LOE paths

• Muirfield Golf Club has been added as an outbound tracking point for the Hornsby Outbound lane and Castle Towers has been added as an inbound tracking point for the Brooklyn Inbound lane

• HORNSBY OUTBOUND: PRT - MFGC - PENH - HSY - PAA

• BROOKLYN INBOUND: BBG - CAST - PSP

  

  

  Muirfield Golf Club with Castle Hill in the background

Western Lanes

PENRITH OUTBOUND: PRT - SITS - VCBR

Track outbound to Parramatta, then northwest to Seven Hills Train Station, then west to Victoria Bridge over the Nepean River at Penrith. Remain north of the Great Western Higway. Class D boundary at Nepean Hospital

Seven Hills Train Station, identifiable as the station immediately prior to Blacktown, with a multistory and outdoor carpark immediately on the northern side

Abeam the Lighthorse Interchange tracking west showing the Great Western Highway and the M4. Inbound traffic will be tracking between the Great Western Highway and the M4

Approaching Penrith, with the Hospital indicating the approximate location of the Class D CTA boundary and the Victoria Bridge tracking point

On approach to Victoria Bridge at Penrith

LIGHTHORSE INBOUND: NPBR - LIHR - PSP

Obtaining a discrete code and clearance in Class G airspace west of Penrith, track first to Nepean Bridge (where the M4 crosses the Nepean River), then follow the M4 eastbound, keeping the M4 on your right and the Great Western Highway on your left. Pass over the Light Horse Interchange and track to Prospect, expecting transfer to Bankstown Tower for circuit joining instructions.

The Nepean Bridge - as the M4 motorway crosses the Nepean River. Inbound track runs just north of the M4

The Light Horse Interchange - where the M7 crosses the M4, just northwest of Prospect Reservoir (top left corner of image)

Southwestern Lanes 

HOXTON PARK OUTBOUND: HXPR - EMPS - MAGG

Track outbound from Bankstown, crossing the Hume Highway west of Liverpool, then track to the intersection of Hoxton Park Rd and the M7. Then turn south and track to Edmonson Park Train Station (southwest of TWRN) then southbound to the west of the Hume Motorway to Mount Annan Botanic Gardens Greenhouse.

The Intersection of the M7 motorway and Hoxton Park Rd, seen from the east

Edmonson Park Railway Station, from the northwest

Mount Annan Botanic Gardens Greenhouse

ST HELENS INBOUND: SSKP - CRST - CRSC

Obtaining a discrete code and clearance in Class G airspace south of Campbelltown, track via St Helens Skateboard Park, Campbelltown Railway Station and then north along the railway line, diverging to the Crossroads Shopping Centre, expecting a transfer to Bankstown Tower for joining instructions

St Helens Skateboard Park on the southern end of Campbelltown (arrow). The Gilead Retirement Village (centre left) is an obvious landmark just south of St Helens

St Helens Skateboard Park

Tracking north abeam Campbelltown Hospital to the railway station

Tracking north along the railway line, diverge across the golf course to the Crossroads Shopping Centre (yellow circle)

The Crossroads Shopping Centre, just south of the traditional TWRN reporting point

Accessing Sydney Harbour

The existing route to and from Ryde Bridge for access to and egress from the Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour will remain for helicopters and seaplanes. R405 will be re-coded as R407 on 9 July, with the CLL west of the Harbour Bridge being raised to 1000ft, although at this stage the laneway between Ryde Bridge and Harbour Bridge will still be flown at 500ft

Access to and from Ryde Bridge will be via direct contact with Bankstown Tower, using the existing Choppers West (CWST) and Choppers North (CNTH) tracking points.

What about Choppers South (CSTH)?

At this stage it seems that the Choppers South tracking point will remain defined, but will not be in regular use by rotary aircraft other than emergency services

Traffic Deconfliction

Visual separation of traffic in Class D will be the pilot responsibility, with traffic information provided by ATC where possible. Two main areas of concern are:

1. Crossing Penrith Outbound and Brooklyn Inbound routes north of Prospect Reservoir

2. Fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft tracking in the same lanes at 1500ft, with significant speed differences

As yet there are no published risk mitigation strategies from Airservices Australia for these concerns

The Main Rotor Hub will continue to update this article as further information is released by Airservices Australia. The ERSA Local Procedures for YSBK will be the authoritative source — pilots should check the effective-date ERSA prior to any flight in the area after 9 July 2026.

If you have any questions or information to add, please reach out through the contact page.