10/05/2023

Did you know that crane operators within 15 kilometres of a major airport must seek approval before working in protected airspace?

The protected airspace under Commonwealth laws covers much of Adelaide, including a 15km radius from Adelaide Airport, 5km radius from Parafield Airport and a 15km buffer zone around RAAF Base Edinburgh, which is known as a Defence Aviation Area (DAA).

As a duty holder, crane operators must seek approval to operate in these areas for short term (less than three months) or long term (more than three months) projects.

Cranes operating in the vicinity of an airport have the potential to create air safety hazards, and to seriously limit the scope of aviation operations into and out of an airport or DAA.

While the critical areas of concern are the immediate approach and take-off areas, cranes can cause problems for pilots departing or preparing to land.

SafeWork SA will enforce compliance if the hazards associated with crane operations are not being managed, such as approval from the airport operator or defence aviation area operator.

The 15km radius from Adelaide Airport takes in the Adelaide CBD, North Adelaide and several popular suburban centres such as Glenelg, Norwood and Marion.

The zones around Parafield and Edinburgh cover the majority of Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Visit our Operating cranes in protected air space page for further information and to find out how to gain the relevant approvals.