The conservatorship that has controlled the life of Britney Spears for 13 years is nearing a possible end after a judge suspended her father, with the pop superstar saying she is "on cloud 9 right now".
At a contentious three-hour hearing on Wednesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny removed Jamie Spears from oversight of his daughter's $US60 million ($A83 million) estate and set a November date to discuss whether to terminate the entire arrangement.
In an Instagram post following the judge's ruling, the singer posted video showing her seated next to a pilot in the cockpit of a small plane and manoeuvering the controls.
"On cloud 9 right now !!!! First time flying a plane and first time in a prop plane !!! Geez I was scared," she wrote, without mentioning the conservatorship.
In court, Penny removed Jamie Spears from his role after the singer's lawyer said she did not want him involved for even one more day.
"The current situation is not tenable. It reflects a toxic environment which requires the suspension of Jamie Spears, effective today," Penny said.
The judge said she would hold a hearing on November 12 to discuss a petition to terminate the conservatorship that controls Britney Spears' business and personal affairs.
Britney Spears, 39, has been struggling for years to get free of the legal arrangement. She did not take part in Wednesday's hearing.
"It's a great day for Britney Spears and it's a great day for justice," the singer's lawyer Mathew Rosengart told #FreeBritney fans gathered outside the Los Angeles courthouse.
"Britney Spears has been faced with a decade-long nightmare, a Kafkaesque nightmare, orchestrated by her father and others."
Jamie Spears would be replaced by an accountant, John Zabel, on a temporary basis, Penny said.
Members of the #FreeBritney movement erupted in cheers outside the courthouse as the judge's ruling was conveyed.
Jamie Spears had been in charge of his daughter's business affairs since 2008, when he put in place a wide-ranging, court-approved conservatorship after she suffered a mental breakdown.
Rosengart said he envisaged an orderly transition in which the conservatorship could end before the close of the year.
Ironically, it was Jamie Spears who earlier in September reversed years of objections and abruptly called for the conservatorship to end.
But he argued he should remain in his role to smooth the transition.
Rosengart, however, demanded Jamie Spears be suspended immediately.
A New York Times documentary released last week alleged that the singer's phone and bedroom were bugged by security staff working for her father.
Conversations with friends, her children and her previous lawyer were monitored, a former security staffer said.
Jamie Spears has said his actions were within his authority as conservator.
"Mr Spears has faithfully and loyally served as a court-appointed conservator for 13 years. His record is impeccable," his lawyer Vivian Thoreen said on Wednesday.
Spears stepped up her efforts in June to break free of the conservatorship, telling the judge in her first public comments that she wanted her life back.
Public support, helped by three documentaries, has swelled.
Two weeks ago Britney Spears announced her engagement to Sam Asghari, 27, her personal trainer boyfriend of more than four years.
The pair hope to marry after negotiating a prenuptial agreement.
with AP
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