Noise complaints as weather sparks change to Brisbane flight paths

Brisbane residents flooded Facebook community groups with plane noise complaints on New Year’s Day. This is why flight paths were changed.

“Really, one more plane and I’ll run nude up Sandgate Road.” “Wtf (is) with these planes? Someone please tell me this isn’t normal.” “I’m at my wit’s end. My apartment is shaking constantly. I wasn’t able to sleep properly.”

Residents of Brisbane’s northside have flooded social media with complaints about increased noise from planes on New Year’s Day.

A Jetstar plane climbs after takeoff from Brisbane Airport. Photo: NewsWire/Sarah Marshall.

While some wondered whether there had been a change to flight paths to coincide with the new year, the actual explanation is far more simple, with the weather to blame.

Brisbane Airport changed its operations on Monday because of rain and storm activity extending from Brisbane’s south to the Gold Coast.

Instead of both runways handling incoming and outgoing flights as usual, all landings were done on the older legacy runway, with aircraft coming in over Moreton Bay.

Crucially, all takeoffs were done from the new runway to allow aircraft to avoid the bad weather to the south, resulting in them flying low over the northern suburbs.

The change, known as a segregated runway operation, was in effect from 7.45am to 8pm on New Year’s Day.

It meant there were no flight cancellations on Monday, despite the bad weather.

The low cloud also exacerbated the aircraft noise, forming a blanket and effectively reverberating the plane sounds back down onto the suburbs.

Brisbane Airport reverted to normal operations late on Monday, and remained this way on Tuesday.

AirServices Australia, who are responsible for aircraft flight paths and air traffic control operations, said wind direction dictates which runway is used for takeoff and landing.

“Segregated operations are not a priority mode at Brisbane Airport. They are mostly used in response to operational constraints or during periods of poor weather to ensure safety.

“When operating in segregated mode, aircraft arrive via one runway, and depart via the other. “This reduces air traffic controller workload, as arrival and departure operations are separated. “It also allows works to be carried out at the end of each runway, without the need for a full runway closure.”