Flight path shake-up: How Brisbane skies could change

Noise from Brisbane Airport should be reduced by changing flight paths, according to recommendations in a long-awaited report. But there are two things the report doesn’t mention that will disappoint some residents. POLL, MAPS

Noise from Brisbane Airport should be reduced by changing flight paths, with more flights directed over Moreton Bay, but no cap on the number of flights or curfew would be introduced, according to recommendations in a long-awaited report.

Some flights could also be delayed “moderately” in a recommendation aimed at limiting frequency of planes passing over homes.

The report comes after the opening of the airport’s second runway in 2020 led to a surge in noise issues, particularly in suburbs including Ascot, Hendra, Hamilton, New Farm, Teneriffe, Bulimba, Samford Valley, Brookfield and Upper Brookfield.

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The report, commissioned by Airservices Australia, found firstly a noise action plan was needed for the short, medium and long term, supported by “strong, transparent and representative governance”.

Secondly, the Trax report recommended maximising flights over water away from residential areas, and thirdly, reducing the concentration and frequency of aircraft movement over communities.

The report called for a more expansive set of options for flight paths, including multiple routes for planned respite. It noted the recommendation would take until 2025 to implement due to limitations of the air traffic control IT system, which was unable to handle multiple alternating arrival routes.

It also warned that the “total population overflown” would increase as a result of this action that would effectively share the grief of flight noise.

The words “cap” and “curfew” do not appear in the 71-page report, despite those being options pushed by some residents and the Greens.

Brisbane residents rallying outside Brisbane Airport Corporation against fight noise. Picture: Tara Croser.

In regards to flight paths, increased use of “simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations” (SODPROPS), which essentially allow for more flights over Moreton Bay, were recommended.

But as part of this, the report warned that “a moderate amount of flight delay” may need to be considered as traffic on the runways reaches capacity.

“The total number of arriving aircraft that the airport can accept during SODPROPS … is currently 20 per hour,” the report stated.

“It may be possible to increase the number of arrivals slightly if operational procedures and the flight path design can be appropriately adjusted to assure there is no degradation in safety.

“However, accepting even a very small number of additional flights will create increasingly large delays as the maximum capacity threshold for SODPROPS is reached.”

There is potential to engage with RAAF Base Amberley for shared use of airspace.

A range of redesigned flight paths is recommended, aimed at reducing the frequency and concentration of flights over residential areas (pictured below).

Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance chair Marcus Foth said the report was welcome, and highlighted that Airservices had “not been doing its homework” on flight paths.

“At Senate estimates hearings, Airservices has called flight path design their ‘bread and butter’, but this report shows they’re not up to the task,” Mr Foth said.

“I think it’s time to call a Royal Commission into the aviation industry, with Qantas struggling and Airservices decimating communities with flight noise pollution.”

He said it would concern residents that the recommendations most likely to bring relief from aircraft noise would not be implemented till 2025.

Mr Foth was also disappointed that the terms of reference for the report did not allow Trax International to consider measures such as an airport curfew or an aircraft noise levy.

“It’s already been shown that the community places a high priority on this issue, we saw that at the last election in (the inner city seats of) Brisbane, Ryan and Griffith with the election of Greens candidates,” he said.

“More direct action is on the cards because the prospect of three more years of noise pollution is not going to be palatable to residents.”

Airservices Australian boss Jason Harfield said the organisation would consider all opportunities for noise abatement that were safe and feasible.

“We look forward to consulting further with the community and industry on the Trax recommendations over the coming months as part of the Brisbane PIR process,” Mr Harfield said.

Transport Minister Catherine King said the report was critical to improving noise outcomes.

“As promised, the Government will proceed with its election commitment to establish a permanent, independent community consultation body to provide ongoing support to better manage aircraft noise around Brisbane Airport,” she said.

Airservices Australia CEO Jason Harfield. Picture: Ray Strange

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the airport would work with airlines to reduce noise for residents.

“One of the ways to reduce aircraft noise for residents who live under the flight paths is to increase the number of flights that arrive and depart over Moreton Bay, with BNE eager to see this increased,” Mr de Graaff said.

There will be stakeholder and community meetings scheduled for next month to discuss the recommendations in the final report.