ContactPost: CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF MALAYSIA Tel: 6-03-8778 4106 Email: ais@caam.gov.my URL: aip.caam.gov.my | AIP Supplement for Malaysia | AIRAC AIP SUP 53/25 Effective Date: 27 NOV 2025 Publication Date: 16 OCT 2025 |
ContactPost: CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF MALAYSIA Tel: 6-03-8778 4106 Email: ais@caam.gov.my URL: aip.caam.gov.my | AIP Supplement for Malaysia | AIRAC AIP SUP 53/25 Effective Date: 27 NOV 2025 Publication Date: 16 OCT 2025 |
1.1 DRO is a part of the Free Route Operation (FRTO) element, an initiative from CAAM to reduce CO2 emissions by shortening aircraft track miles and increasing flight efficiency using the existing waypoints of the specified segments of ATS routes.
1.2 Following the ongoing favourable trial of DRO in KL FIR (see AIP Supplement 27/25), Malaysia is moving forward with the next phase of the DRO implementation process, which involves a trial of DRO for overflight RVSM-approved aircraft that have RNP 2 specifications within KK FIR.
2.1 The purpose of this AIRAC AIP Supplement is to notify the aircraft operator of the trial implementation of Direct Route Operations (DRO) 24 hours daily within the Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Region (FIR), effective from 0000UTC on 27th November 2025 until 14th May 2026 2359UTC.
2.2 Only overflying aircraft cruising at FL340 and above will be allowed to participate in the DRO trial within Kota Kinabalu FIR. Flight Levels (FL) indication shall be accurately filed in FPL Item 15.
3.1.1 Participating aircraft shall be RNP 2 and RVSM approved.
3.2.1 DROs are available for flights overflying Kota Kinabalu FIR on specified segments of ATS routes and flight levels (within radar coverage of KK FIR) as listed in the table below where applicable:
| Entry WPT | Exit WPT | DRO Flight Planning | Track Miles Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGOBA | OSANU | AGOBA DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT OSANU | 31.6 |
| VIMAG | AGOBA DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT VIMAG | 44 | |
| VINIK | AGOBA DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT VINIK | 30.6 | |
| ATETI | OSANU | ATETI DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT OSANU | 15.7 |
| VIMAG | ATETI DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT VIMAG | 27.8 | |
| VINIK | ATETI DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT VINIK | 14.2 | |
| KAMIN | OSANU | KAMIN DCT DARMU DCT BRU DCT OSANU | 1.5 |
| VIMAG | KAMIN DCT DARMU DCT BRU DCT VIMAG | 0.1 | |
| OKADA | OSANU | OKADA DCT OSANU | 0.1 |
| VINIK | OKADA DCT BRU DCT SUMLA DCT VINIK | 4.8 | |
| PAPSA | OSANU | PAPSA DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT OSANU | 2.9 |
| VIMAG | PAPSA DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT VIMAG | 15 | |
| VINIK | PAPSA DCT SARVO DCT BRU DCT VINIK | 1.5 | |
| ANIPU | ASISU | ANIPU DCT DARMU DCT ASISU | 0.1 |
| PAPSA | PAPSA DCT DARMU DCT ASISU | 123.7 | |
| OSANU | AGOBA | OSANU DCT BRU DCT SARVO DCT AGOBA | 31.6 |
| ATETI | OSANU DCT BRU DCT SARVO DCT ATETI | 15.7 | |
| KAMIN | OSANU DCT BRU DCT DARMU DCT KAMIN | 1.5 | |
| OKADA | OSANU DCT OKADA | 0.1 | |
| PAPSA | OSANU DCT BRU DCT SARVO DCT PAPSA | 2.9 | |
| VIMAG | AGOBA | VIMAG DCT BRU DCT SARVO DCT AGOBA | 44 |
| ATETI | VIMAG DCT BRU DCT SARVO DCT ATETI | 27.8 | |
| KAMIN | VIMAG DCT BRU DCT DARMU DCT KAMIN | 6.4 | |
| PAPSA | VIMAG DCT BRU DCT SARVO DCT PAPSA | 15 | |
| VINIK | AGOBA | VINIK M754 BRU DCT SARVO DCT AGOBA | 30.5 |
| ATETI | VINIK M754 BRU DCT SARVO DCT ATETI | 14.2 | |
| OKADA | VINIK M754 BRU DCT OKADA | 4.8 | |
| PAPSA | VINIK M754 BRU DCT SARVO DCT PAPSA | 1.5 | |
| VIMAG | OLKIT | VIMAG DCT OLKIT | 2.5 |
| ASISU | VIMAG DCT VJN DCT ASISU | 0.8 | |
| AGSON | VIMAG DCT BUTAX DCT AGSON | 16.4 | |
| OSANU | OLKIT | OSANU DCT DOGOG DCT OLKIT | 15.7 |
| ASISU | OSANU DCT ADLEX DCT ASISU | 61.1 | |
| OSANU | MAMOK | OSANU DCT ELPOX DCT MAMOK | 4.6 |
| AGSON | OSANU DCT BRU DCT AGSON | 1.4 | |
| BAXAL | OSANU DCT VTW DCT BAXAL | 85.9 | |
| VINIK | AGSON | VINIK DCT BUTAX DCT AGSON | 1.2 |
| BAXAL | VINIK DCT NODIN DCT VTW DCT BAXAL | 35.9 | |
| OLKIT | OSANU | OLKIT DCT DOGOG DCT OSANU | 15.7 |
| VIMAG | OLKIT DCT VIMAG | 2.5 | |
| ASISU | AGSON | ASISU DCT AGSON | 29.5 |
| AGSON | VINIK | AGSON DCT BUTAX DCT VINIK | 1.2 |
| BAXAL | OSANU | BAXAL DCT VTW DCT OSANU | 80.8 |
| VINIK | BAXAL DCT VTW DCT NODIN M522 DCT VINIK | 35.9 | |
| MAMOK | VIMAG | MAMOK DCT ELPOX DCT VIMAG | 39.5 |
3.3.1 Flights participating in DRO shall flight plan using the direct routes listed in Paragraph 3.2.1.
3.3.2 While there is no planned alteration to the ICAO flight plan format concerning FRTO, aircraft participating in the DRO in KK FIR, as specified by CAAM, shall include RMK/KKDRO in Item 18.
3.3.3 Segments of the ATS route between selected waypoints, as outlined in Paragraph 3.2.1, are represented using DCT as per CAD 1101 – Air Traffic Management Chapter 17.
3.3.4 Given the mixed operation between the traditional fixed ATS network and DRO, only RVSM-approved aircraft equipped with at least RNP 2 are allowed to participate in this DRO.
3.3.5 Aircraft participating in DRO shall annotate their flight plan one or more of the following:
| Descriptor(Item 10) | Item 18 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| W | RVSM approved aircraft | |
| RNP2 | NAV/RNP 2 | RNP 2 approved aircraft |
| RMK/KKDRO | DRO participating aircraft within Kota Kinabalu FIR |
3.3.6 Failure to indicate the above FPL descriptors and required remarks in Item 18 in their flight plan may result in the air traffic controller to re-route aircraft via the conventional fixed ATS network in Kota Kinabalu FIR.
3.3.7 It is crucial to highlight that Item 15 concerning the indication of Flight Levels (FL) be accurately filed in accordance with the guidelines presented in paragraph 2.2 and table in Paragraph 3.2.1. Failure to comply may necessitate the air traffic controller to reroute the aircraft utilising the conventional ATS route network as indicated in AIP ENR 1.8.
4.1 NOTAMs may be issued 48 hours in advance if the unavailability of DRO provision is sufficiently foreseeable. This is to ensure safe and efficient fuel management for aircraft.
4.2 Contingency Event
4.2.1 DRO is not available during the activation of Malaysia ATM Contingency Level 2.
4.2.2 Upon activation, either published by NOTAM or informed by the transferring ATC unit, all participating DRO aircraft shall follow the applicable Contingency Route (CR) and Flight Level Allocation Scheme (FLAS) to ensure the safety of the flight and to facilitate limited flight operations commensurate with the prevailing conditions.
5.1 The following personnel may be contacted for information or to provide feedback on DRO operations:
CAAM Air Navigation Services Technical Division: Procedures, ATS Routes and Contingency Unit ats.procedures@caam.gov.my
6.1 This AIRAC AIP Supplement will remain in force until 14th May 2026. Any updates, changes, and cancellations to this AIRAC AIP Supplement will be notified through NOTAM.