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It is important Brisbane Airport's airspace is protected - now and in the future - to provide a safe, efficient and predictable environment for aircraft to arrive and depart in all conditions.
The Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations set the framework for the definition and declaration of airspace requiring protection. These regulations also outline the processes required for the assessment of proposals involving intrusion into airspace – deemed “Controlled Activities”.
The Regulations are administered by the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and ensure:
- The airspace which aircraft operate in when under Instrument Meteorological Conditions is obstacle-free with minimum obstacle clearances maintained consistent with relevant international and national aviation standards
- The airspace which aircraft operate in when under Visual Meteorological Conditions is generally obstacle-free, and only in certain circumstances are objects permitted to intrude into that component of an airport’s prescribed airspace following a detailed hazard determination, potentially resulting in hazard identification through markings and lighting to the object or structure
- Assessments are applied to facilities that results in the emissions of smoke, dust or other particulate matter
- Radar, aviation navigation systems and critical airfield lighting systems have adequate protection zones and are able to operate without interference
- A robust assessment regime is established for proposed structures and developments (Controlled Activities) that may impact an Airport’s airspace
- Penalty provisions exist for activities not conducted in accordance with the requirements of the APARs.
Prescribed Airspace
The Airspace for Brisbane Airport was first declared in 2009, and is updated and revised when required, with the most recent update by the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Arts in March 2025. The charts included below depict airspace declared under the previous Regulations, the declarations of which continue in force following the commencement of the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 2026.
These charts continue to depict the prescribed airspace for Brisbane Airport, however some terminology shown on the charts may reflect the former Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996. The change in terminology does not, and should not be taken to mean, that the airspace identified in the charts is no longer prescribed airspace.
Brisbane Airport will prepare prescribed airspace charts to reflect the modernised terminology within the 2026 Regulations during 2026.
Obstacle Limitation Service (OLS)
Procedures for Air Navigational Services—Aircraft Operations (PANS-OPS)
Surfaces associated with Radar systems, aviation navigational aids and airfield major lighting installations
Surfaces associated with High Intensity Approach Lights (HIAL)
Surfaces associated with Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI)
Radar Terrain Surface
The Radar Terrain Surface as prescribed in 2017 is also a current prescribed airspace surface, administered by Airservices Australia. Consideration of this surface is required for all proposed construction and development activities.
Please be aware that areas of Brisbane and South East Queensland may be impacted by additional airspace surfaces associated with other airports in the region.
Crane Approvals
Crane operations in the vicinity of Brisbane Airport, or within the airport's protected airspace have the potential to create air safety hazards and to seriously impact the airport's operations.
For this reason, crane operations are required by law to be assessed and approved under the Commonwealth's Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996.
Crane operators must provide a completed Crane Application form online (below) prior to commencing any crane activity.
The application will then be assessed for approval by the airport.
For more information on operating a crane within an airport's protected airpace, visit Information for Crane Operators on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.
Crane Application
Development Proposals
Obstructions (whether permanent or temporary) in the vicinity of Brisbane Airport and/or the Airport's protected airspace have the potential to create air safety hazards and to seriously limit the scope of aviation operations into and out of the airport. The effects of individual obstacles may be relatively minor, but together a number of obstacles may seriously limit runway utilisation, cause airspace congestion and reduce the effective handling capacity of the airport.
The Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 2026 define certain activities resulting in an intrusion into an airport’s protected airspace to be “controlled activities”. These controlled activities cannot be carried out without approval by either the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts or the relevant Airport Operator Company.
The application process for a controlled activity depends on whether the activity is proposed to affect either primary or secondary airspace surfaces, as defined in the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 2026. Approval for a controlled activity under the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 2026 is a separate process and is required in addition to any development approval under the Planning Act 2016, including where such approval has already been obtained.
As the Airport Operator, Brisbane Airport Corporation is the first point of contact for a person wishing to apply for approval to conduct a controlled activity. Potential applicants should request advice from Brisbane Airport by email to planning@bne.com.au and include the following details:
- The type of proposed activity.
- The proposed location of the activity
- The proposed duration of the activity
- The purpose of the proposed activity
- The proposed maximum height of the controlled activity
- The proposed maximum height of equipment to be used in its construction/erection.
Brisbane Airport will provide an initial assessment of the requested activity and detail the application process that should be followed.
This initial request for advice does not form part of the formal application process as required under the Regulations. Brisbane Airport will provide details of the required application process and indicative timeframes with the initial assessment.
For more information on developments within an airport's protected airspace, visit Protection of Airspace on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.