[Peetwo]

Dicky King suddenly grows a backbone?? - 

Via the Oz:

Airservices given deadline to get moving on alleviating aircraft noise for Brisbane residents

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has told Airservices it must speed up its response to Brisbane Airport’s noise action plan, and has given the air traffic control body until November 30 to implement a key change.

Under the change Airservices will have to prioritise greater use of simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations (SODPROPS) to ensure more flights land and depart Brisbane Airport over water, and fewer services fly over residential areas, weather permitting.

Ms King said she understood aircraft noise “was a source of frustration for communities living under the flight paths around the airport”.

“That is why I have now issued a written direction which has the effect of requiring Airservices to implement the actions within recommendation 2.1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane by November 30, 2024,” she said.

Airservices Australia’s own data showed only one daytime SODPROPS flight was recorded in Brisbane in August, while over 16,000 non-SODPROPS flights flew over homes.

An Airservices spokesman said they were well advanced on the work needed to enable greater use of SODPROPS during daytime hours as a priority where conditions permitted.

“We estimate that 300,000 to 500,000 Brisbane residents will experience reduced impacts from aircraft movements compared to other runway modes,” said the spokesman.

“The plan does not include any changes to tower staffing levels, and current tower capacity is not a constraint on SODPROPS usage.”

Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance chair Marcus Foth said the ministerial direction was welcome as was her recognition of the “significant distress caused to communities across greater Brisbane”.

“But we must remind her that this is not just frustration; it is a serious public health issue, with thousands of residents suffering from chronic sleep deprivation and stress due to the excessive noise pollution,” said Professor Foth.

Aircraft noise intensified as an issue following the opening of Brisbane Airport’s parallel runway in mid-2020, sending planes over parts of the city previously shielded from jet engines.

In response to complaints and a Greens campaign to impose a curfew on Brisbane Airport, a review of airspace and flight paths was ordered.

It was revealed that in the year to June 30 the number of complaints about aircraft noise had increased but the number of people complaining fell.

A total of 7289 complaints were received from 207 people – but of those, 6221 complaints came from just two people.

Brisbane Airport Corporation chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff welcomed Ms King’s direction to Airservices, saying there had long been a push for greater use of SODPROPS.

“Each additional aircraft taking off or landing over the waters of Moreton Bay means fewer aircraft operating over neighbouring suburbs,” Mr de Graaff said.

“We look forward to Airservices Australia building more capacity within its tower so this mode can be operated to a greater extent.”

He said the airport was “committed to working with the local community, Airservices, airlines, safety regulators and aircraft manufacturers with the common purpose and commitment to minimise noise while still delivering the social and economic benefits aviation provides”.

As the federal election draws nearer, the airport noise issue is expected to gain momentum, particularly in inner Brisbane seats held by the Greens since 2022.

Max Chandler-Mather, Stephen Bates and Elizabeth Watson-Brown have continued to lobby for a Brisbane Airport curfew and a cap on flights from the Queensland gateway.

Hmm...I guess Airbus Albo with his NFI WOFTAM Government have suddenly realised that their inner city BrisVegas  seats are under electoral threat from the lunatic watermelon Greens...

Speaking of airports and aircraft noise, I note that today there was another public hearing that included all of the usual aviation Fat Cat bureaucrats in Can'tberra. See HERE for the full program:



For an insight into the potential future for the GA industry, if as predicted we end up with a Labor/Greens minority government after the next election, refer to the following video from the 50:50 minute mark...

Plus for Part II:

   

MTF...P2 

Addendum: Tabled docs & DK MR

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Brisbane Airport New Parallel Runway Percentage Usage of Modes DRAFT EIS/MDP, tabled by Peter Curran, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Airservices Australia, at a public hearing in Canberra on 20 September 2024

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Civil Aviation Safety Authority, opening statement, tabled by Andreas Marcelja, Acting Director of Aviation Safety, at a public hearing in Canberra on 20 September 2024

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Western Sydney Airport, opening statement, tabled by Mr Simon Hickey, Chief Executive Officer, at a public hearing in Canberra on 20 September 2024

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Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Third Runway Major Development Plan, Melbourne Airport Conditions of Approval, tabled by Sarah Nattey, Assistant Secretary, Airports Branch - Domestic Aviation & Reform, at a public hearing in Canberra on 20 September 2024

Via Miniscule DK's media minions:

Reducing airport noise for Brisbane residents
The Albanese Government has taken further steps to offer aircraft noise relief for the Brisbane community, particularly for residents of suburbs closest to the end of the parallel runways at Brisbane Airport. 
I understand that aircraft noise is a source of frustration for communities living under the flight paths around the Airport. 
That is why I have now issued a written direction which has the effect of requiring Airservices to implement the actions within recommendation 2.1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane by 30 November 2024.
This direction will involve Airservices prioritising the development of procedures to enable the greater use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) at Brisbane Airport, when meteorological and other operational conditions allow. 
Ultimately, this will mean more flights over the water and fewer flights over communities.
The direction also includes reporting requirements to enhance transparency for the community.
These actions will build on the progress Airservices has already made to improve aircraft noise outcomes for the Brisbane community as part of the Action Plan. Actions undertaken in 2023 include: 

• Permanently extending SODPROPS operations to 8am on Saturday and Sunday mornings and from 8pm on Saturday evenings 
  
• Removing the Noise Abatement Procedure that allowed the new runway to be used over land from 5am for non-jet departures 
  
• Implementing non-jet early turns from the legacy runway over land before 6am, so that aircraft cross the industrial area adjoining Brisbane Airport and complete their climb over water 
  
• A change of runway from the new parallel runway to the legacy one for over water departures to the west, to address an existing operational safety issue.
  

This adds to a range of measures announced through the Aviation White Paper that will better manage the impacts of noise at airports across the country.
These measures include:

• Creating an independent ombuds scheme for aircraft noise
  
• Appointing an Airservices Australia executive for noise and environment to lead the agency’s work on noise minimisation
  
• Improving engagement with communities affected by changes to airspace and flight paths. 
  

For more information, including to view the written direction and explanatory documents, visit https://infrastructure.gov.au/airservice...-direction.

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Date published:
 
18 September 2024

The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, has issued a written direction to Airservices Australia under section 16(1) of the Air Services Act 1995. The written direction has the effect of requiring Airservices Australia to implement the actions within recommendation 2.1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane by 30 November 2024.

Document
 Air Services (Use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations at Brisbane Airport) Direction 2024 (583.54 KB)
Document
 Explanatory notes–Air Services (Use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations at Brisbane Airport) Direction (137.43 KB)

MTF...P2