BAYSIDE residents are set for some aircraft noise relief after changes were revealed to reduce the number of flights over impacted areas.
Last Wednesday, October 31, Airservices Australia announced plans to increase the use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations at Brisbane Airport from November 28, 2024.
SODPROPS is a runway mode that enables aircraft to arrive and depart Brisbane Airport over Moreton Bay.
The changes will make SODPROPS the priority operating mode when traffic and weather conditions allow, resulting in increased use on weekends, and on weekday evenings from 9pm.
Airservices head of community engagement Donna Marshall said aircraft on the departure flight paths used during SODPROPS would remain over water for longer and be higher before they crossed the coastline, resulting in lower noise levels for communities.
“The flight path changes being delivered are part of the measures outlined in Airservices Noise Action Plan for Brisbane and consistent with the Ministerial Direction issued to Airservices in September,” Ms Marshall said.
“They will support an increase in SODPROPS’ use from the current 2% of all operations to around 5% in 2025.”
This will mean for every flight using this procedure, there will be a reduction of the total population overflown by between 300,000 to 500,000 people compared to standard parallel runway operations.
Under the changes, the height of aircraft operations over the Redlands area will increase from 8000ft to above 12,000ft to reduce the noise impact.
“The changes are a result of extensive consultation with the people of Brisbane and respond to Redlands community concerns about aircraft noise impacts,” Ms Marshall said.
Karilyn Beiers, representative for the Federal Electorate of Bowman on the Brisbane Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group, said the changes had implemented part of the improvements suggested in numerous submissions and feedback lodged on behalf of Redlands residents, but did not address the continued request for the “over the ocean” solution.
“The flight path for that solution is to the east following departure, over Moreton Island before turning south, well clear of Point Lookout, to ultimately cross the mainland at a much higher altitude in an area of less dense population,” Ms Beiers said.
“The path to the east of North Stradbroke Island partially addresses the ‘over the ocean’ solution, but still appears too close to Point Lookout; the aim is to have the flight path moved further away from Point Lookout.
“Continuing to impact the Redlands is the flight path to the south, and, with the help of residents and continued assistance from our Federal Member, Henry Pike, the aim is to have that flight path eliminated in favour of the ‘over the ocean’ solution.
“The flight path circling to the right following departure before heading north has been moved further to the north-east of Wellington Point in line with our suggestions.
“Additional input from the state members and the local council may well assist with our outcome.”
Visit engage.airservicesaustralia.com/nap4b/news_feed/november-2024-changes for more information on these changes.
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