59 minutes ago
1
More flights in and out of Brisbane Airport will be directed over Moreton Bay during an 18-month trial to relax tailwind restrictions for aircraft, reducing flight noise over city suburbs.
Complaints of increased aircraft noise have dogged the airport since the new parallel runway – now officially referred to as the western runway – opened to air traffic in 2020.
Brisbane Airport head of airspace management Tim Boyle said he hoped the trial, which had been formulated through consultation with airlines, would ultimately lead to more aircraft movement over Moreton Bay rather than the suburbs.
A United Airlines flight arriving from Los Angeles, after descending over Moreton Bay.Credit: Brisbane Airport
“Safety is always our top priority at Brisbane Airport,” he said.
“Passengers won’t notice any difference, but each time a pilot chooses an over-the-water departure path, it reduces the impact on the community.
“Even a handful of flights each week will provide valuable data over the 18‑month trial as part of this long-term project to reduce noise for our community.”
As it stands, aircraft at Brisbane Airport cannot take off or land with a tailwind of more than five knots, which can force pilots to use flight paths above populated areas.
The trial will allow pilots to depart with a 10-knot tailwind between 10pm and 6am, as long as certain conditions are met.
A tailwind of 10 knots or less would be required, along with a crosswind of no more than 20 knots – including gusts – and would only apply when the runway was dry and there were no thunderstorms within 30 nautical miles (about 56 kilometres) of the airport.
There would also need to be adequate air traffic control staffing and “acceptable levels” of traffic complexity.
If all those conditions were met, pilots would receive an audio notification via Airservices Australia’s Automatic Terminal Information Service system.
Participation in the trial would be at the discretion of the commanding pilot and, for the first six months, would only apply to departures.
According to Brisbane Airport, in the past six months, 63 per cent of aircraft movements have been over Moreton Bay between 10pm and 6am.
It was hoped that the trial would increase that number, ideally through a permanent increase to Brisbane’s tailwind allowance.
Loading
Another benefit would be for international flights, which would have a much shorter taxiing time to the western runway.
A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said the trial did not need the regulator’s approval.
“Safety is always our priority – runway nomination by ATC [air traffic control] needs to be safe for all aircraft types,” the spokesman said.
“CASA supports Brisbane Airport and Airservices Australia developing a trial procedure with airlines to allow their crew to opt into an arrangement that maximises the use of over-water operations when they have assessed it to be safe.
“It does not change the current rules, which allow a maximum tailwind of five knots for the nomination of a preferred runway by air traffic control.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Most Viewed in National
Loading
