Runway testing starts at Western Sydney Airport as Piper Comanche is first

Western Sydney Airport has welcomed its first flight — in a major milestone for the gateway almost 80 years in the planning.

Western Sydney Airport has welcomed its first flight, in the latest milestone for the Badgerys Creek gateway that was first mooted in 1946.

A Piper PA-30 twin engine Comanche landed on the Western Sydney runway early Wednesday afternoon, before undertaking further takeoffs and landings in the evening.

Airport chief executive Simon Hickey said the flights were intended to ensure more than 3000 runway lights were fit for purpose as preparations continued for a 2026 opening.

“This week’s flight tests are an important commissioning requirement stipulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and the culmination of a tremendous amount of work by our contract partners,” said Mr Hickey.

He said developing the 3.7km runway was an involved process, that included levelling the land, building multiple complex layers of sandstone and asphalt, and installing lighting, line marking and technology systems.

“There are thousands of workers bringing Western Sydney International (WSI) to life each day, many of whom are Western Sydney locals,” Mr Hickey said.

“This week they can look down that runway and know they built something that will stand the test of time and provide a critical service to many millions of Australians.”

A Piper Comanche has become the first aircraft to touch down on Western Sydney Airport’s runway.

The intention was for WSI to open in late 2026 with one runway which would give the 24 hour airport the capacity to handle 10 million passengers a year.

In addition to the 3000 aeronautical ground lights, there were 348 high intensity approach lights installed to help guide aircraft into the airport far enough from touchdown to ensure a safe transition from instrument to visual flight.

The airport was also planning to have the only CAT III-B instrument landing system in Sydney, to enable aircraft to operate safely in foggy conditions.

Other key features included “rapid exit taxiways” to allow planes to exit and enter the runway at faster speeds, reducing the average taxi time to about 5 minutes which was shorter than most other airports around the world.

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia are already committed to operating flights from Western Sydney, while Singapore Airlines has signed on to provide international services with the possibility of a domestic operation as well.

It was the Qantas Group’s plan to base ten Jetstar aircraft at WSI, and five Qantas aircraft but it was yet to be revealed what routes they would fly.

“I have no doubt there will be international routes as part of that start-up,” Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson told The Australian recently.

“You’ll see that for Jetstar for sure, and if there’s the demand we could quite possibly see Qantas doing that as well.”

Originally published as Runway testing starts at Western Sydney Airport as Piper Comanche is first