Aviation & Ships Spotting in Malta

Anything from Civil & Military Aviation to Naval Vessels

Malta Flight Information Region

The European airspace is divided into a number of zones known as Flight Information Regions (FIRs).  Each FIR is divided into distinct sectors, depending on the size of the FIR.  Also within some sectors are portions of airspace, about 50 miles (80.5-km) in diameter, called Terminal Control Areas (TMAs).  Within each TMA are a number of airports, each of which has its own airspace with a 5 mile (8-km) radius. 

Malta FIR, surrounded by Rome FIR to the north, Tunis FIR to the west, Tripoli FIR to the south and Athens FIR to the east, is divided into two sectors, known as the Malta West and the Malta East.  Malta FIR has one TMA (approx. 60NM in diameter) and is situated in the Malta West sector.  In Malta's TMA, and within 20 NM from Luqa Airport, there are three Control Areas.  These are: the Malta Control Traffic Zone (with a 20NM radius from MLA DME), the Area of Gozo (with a 17NM radius from GZO VOR/DME) and the Luqa Aerodrome Traffic Zone (with a 9NM radius from MLA DME).

Malta FIR is covered by four separate radars.  Two are locally-based (Luqa and Dingli), a third radar is situated at Ustica (north of Palermo, Sicily) and a fourth radar is based at Kathira (in Greece).  The two locally-based radars and the radar situated at Ustica provides radar coverage for the Malta West sector. On the other hand, the radar based in Kathira provides coverage for the Malta East sector.

 Radar  Position   Range 
 Dingli  355109N, 0142254E  180NM (PSR), 260NM (MSSR)
 Luqa  355107N, 0142819E  60NM (PSR), 200NM (MSSR)
 Ustica  384229N, 0131038E   250NM (MSSR)
 Kithira  361340N, 0225626E   220NM (MSSR) 

Airspace Classification

Malta UIR:

 FL195 - FL460 (Class C), above FL460 (Glass G)  

Malta FIR:

 MSL - FL195 (Class C along designated routes; Class G outside regulated airspace)  

Malta TMA:

 2,000 feet - FL195 (Class C) 

Malta CTR: 

 SFC - 2,000 feet (Class C) 

Luqa ADZ: 

 SFC - 2,000 feet (Class C) 
Area of Gozo:  SFC - 2,000 feet (Class C)

      • Class C:  Operations may be conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR), or Visual Flight Rules (VFR).  All aircraft are subject to Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance.  Aircraft operating under IFR and SVFR are separated from each other and from flights operating under VFR.  Flights operating under VFR are given traffic information in respect of other VFR flights. [ICAO definition] 

      • Class G:  Operations may be conducted under IFR or VFR.  ATC separation is not provided.  Traffic Information may be given as far as is practical in respect of other flights. [ICAO definition]

  • Malta FIR (West & East Sectors)

  • Malta Terminal Control Area

  • Control Areas

Glossary

  • ADZ = Aerodrome Traffic Zone
  • ATC = Air Traffic Control
  • CTR = Control Traffic Zone
  • DME = Distance Measuring Equipment
  • FIR = Flight Information Region
  • FL = Flight Level
  • IFR = Instrument Flight Rules
  • MEL = Mininmum Equipment List  
  • MSL = Mean Sea Level
  • MSSR = Monopulse Seconday Surveillance Radar
  • PSR = Primary Surveillance Radar  
  • SFC = Surface  
  • SVFR = Special Visual Flight Rules
  • TMA = Terminal Control Area
  • UIR = Upper Information Region
  • VFR = Visual Flight Rules
  • VOR = VHF Omni-directional Radio Range (OMNI)

Source:  Department of Civil Aviation (Malta) and MATS Ltd.

Disclaimer Note:  All above information is hereby being given as an ease of reference ONLY and is NOT suitable for any flight-planning from/to Malta or whatsoever.