Regulations and legislation
Crane operations or other obstructions in the vicinity of an airport (approximately 15 kms) have the potential to create air safety hazards and to seriously limit the airport’s operations. For this reason, they are required to be assessed and approved in accordance with the respective regulations and legislation.
The airspace around Darwin International Airport is protected under the Commonwealth Airports Act 1996, the Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996. Darwin International Airport is jointly used with the Department of Defence and the Defence Aviation Areas Regulations 2018 also apply to RAAF Base Darwin.
It is an offence under Section 183 of the Airports Act 1996 to carry out, without approval, crane operations which intrude into an airport’s protected airspace; it is also an offence under Section 186 of the Act not to give information to the airport operator that is relevant to a proposed activity.
Applications to carry out crane operations should be made in writing (application form or email) to the airport as soon as possible. A minimum of three (3) days is required for the assessment process, however, if the proposed activity is expected to result into an intrusion into the OLS or PANS-OPS surface proponents should allow a minimum of four (4) weeks.
The information required for an application to be assessed must include:
- A description of the proposal activity (e.g. crane or concrete boom operation etc.)
- Its precise location (site address if large site or Co-ordinates/locations shown on map)
- The maximum height of the crane above ground level
- Ground level (AHD) at site (if known)
- Proposed operating times/dates and obstruction light required for night operations.
Please contact the Airside Manager on 08 8920 1904 or email airportoperations@ntairport.com.au, if any question.
Airspace charts and resources
