Latest news with #WesternSydneyInternationalAirport
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- General
- Sky News AU
Shadow transport minister Bridget McKenzie accuses Labor of targeting Liberal seats with Western Sydney jet noise
Shadow transport minister Bridget McKenzie has claimed the Albanese government's night-time runway directive is a politically calculated manoeuvre to burden Liberal electorates with aircraft noise from Western Sydney International Airport. Shadow transport minister Bridget McKenzie has accused the Albanese government of concentrating jet noise over Liberal-held electorates as part of what she labelled a 'short-term political fix' to protect marginal Labor seats near the new Western Sydney International Airport. Transport Minister Catherine King has announced a ministerial directive for Airservices Australia to make 'Reciprocal Runway Operations' (RRO) the default at night at WSIA. RRO requires aircraft to take off and land facing the same direction—towards the southwest—but using opposite ends of the single runway. Ms King claimed the directive was to 'achieve the overall lowest possible impact on surrounding communities'. Labor holds 11 of the 14 seats in the broader Western Sydney region, and Ms McKenzie said the Minister's directive would disproportionately impact the few Liberal seats in the area. 'Labor is attempting to concentrate nighttime aircraft noise over Liberal held electorates of Lindsay and Hume,' Ms McKenzie told Sky News on Thursday. 'Part of Labor's noise mitigation strategy is a risky ministerial direction to have planes fly head-on towards each other for take-offs and landings at night. 'The government waited until after the election before finalising flight paths and attempted to hide the announcements behind the completion of runway construction.' The shadow transport minister has also raised further concerns over air safety and staff shortages. 'Under the Albanese Labor government there are already chronic shortages of Airservices Australia air traffic controllers,' she said. 'How can the government give confidence to pilots, crews and passengers that there will be enough air traffic controllers on shift at all times to keep planes from crashing head-on into each other over Western Sydney at night under Catherine King's new direction?' Ms King's direction to Air Services Australia was to make reciprocal runway operations the "default operating mode" between 11pm and 5.30am. Aviation expert and former commercial pilot Captain Byron Bailey has, in response, warned that the RRO plan may be both unworkable and potentially unsafe at a major 24/7 airport. 'Runway 23 will be the preferred runway due to the predominant wind direction,' Captain Bailey told Sky News. 'Nowhere in the world is (RRO) done like this. The resulting traffic confliction and holding would be ridiculous—possibly difficult for ATC to manage.' Captain Bailey warned that if pilots are forced to land or take off downwind due to the RRO restrictions, many may simply refuse. 'Take-offs for heavy B777/A380 would necessitate an into-wind take-off. A downwind take-off by 300-tonne-plus aircraft imposes an additional hazard which pilots will refuse.' However, aviation consultant Tony Stanton, CEO of Strategic Air, offered a different view, defending the RRO policy when applied in low-traffic overnight conditions. 'The minister's statement rightly includes an important consideration—'when safe to do so',' Mr Stanton said. 'Given the Reciprocal Runway Operations mode is to be prioritised between 11pm and 5.30am, traffic density would typically be favourable… I expect the RRO mode to be used routinely and on most nights of the year.' Western Sydney International Airport is expected to begin operations in 2026.
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Transport Minister Catherine King's ministerial direction for Western Sydney Airport sparks concerns about safe 24/7 operation
The Albanese government's directive to prioritise noise abatement in Labor electorates surrounding Western Sydney International Airport has triggered warnings from aviation experts. Transport Minister Catherine King has unveiled flight paths for the new airport, declaring the measures a 'crucial step' for managing concerns over aircraft noise. The new plan includes a ministerial direction for Airservices Australia to make 'Reciprocal Runway Operations' (RRO) the default between 11pm and 5.30am. RRO requires aircraft to take off and land facing the same direction—towards the southwest—but using opposite ends of the single runway. 'I'll be issuing a ministerial direction to Air Services Australia… to make reciprocal runway operations the default operating mode at night,' Ms King said. She claimed the directive was to 'achieve the overall lowest possible impact on surrounding communities'. The directive comes as part of an effort to shield residents from jet noise in Western Sydney, where Labor holds 11 of 14 seats. However, aviation expert Captain Byron Bailey condemned the directive as 'almost farcical' and potentially dangerous, warning some carriers may reject the arrangement outright. 'Runway 23 will be the preferred runway due to the predominant wind direction,' Captain Bailey told Sky News. 'Nowhere in the world is (RRO) done like this. The resulting traffic confliction and holding would be ridiculous—possibly difficult for ATC to manage,' he said. Mr Bailey warned that if RRO procedures are perceived as burdensome or unsafe, international carriers may not be able to operate. 'Aircraft have an operational limitation of 10 knots downwind, so I can expect captains will be demanding an into-wind landing and ATC cannot refuse. This RRO is a joke for a 24/7 major single-runway airport.' The veteran pilot also raised safety concerns for large aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, noting that downwind take-offs are hazardous and would likely be refused by pilots. 'Take-offs for heavy B777/A380 would necessitate an into-wind take-off. A downwind take-off by 300-tonne-plus aircraft imposes additional hazard which pilots will refuse.' Aviation consultant and CEO of Strategic Air, Tony Stanton, however, offered a more measured assessment, telling Sky News that RRO could be used in most low-traffic overnight periods. 'The minister's statement rightly includes an important consideration—'when safe to do so',' Mr Stanton told Sky News. 'Given the Reciprocal Runway Operations mode is to be prioritised between 11pm and 5.30am, traffic density would typically be favourable… 'I expect the RRO mode to be used routinely and on most nights of the year.' Mr Stanton dismissed suggestions the directive amounts to a de facto curfew, stressing that Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs) used globally already balance safety, noise mitigation and efficiency. 'Following a published STAR into Western Sydney International Airport is no different to flying into Sydney or Brisbane," he said. 'Curfews at international airports are generally uncommon and a last resort. All signs point to a commitment to operating this airport without a curfew—Sydney certainly needs it.'
West Australian
6 days ago
- West Australian
Western Sydney International Airport's new flight paths revealed ahead of 2026 opening
The new flight paths have been finalised for travellers looking to take to the skies from Sydney's new international airport. A slate of changes has been made to the routes, which were revealed on Wednesday, following two years of planning and community consultation. Those living in the Blue Mountains and Wallacia areas are set to benefit from the changes, spared from overnight noise – the authorisation labelled a 'crucial step' to the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport in late 2026. 'We've learnt lessons from other airports, which is why I have imposed a number of additional conditions that will reduce our aircraft noise,' Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King said. 'Can I say that there will be no noise for anyone? I can't say that because that's the very nature of operating an airport is that you have planes, and planes do make noise.' The initial flight paths were revealed in 2023 followed by a final environmental impact statement in 2024. Five changes were made to help minimise aircraft noise following feedback from the community, Ms King said. Four of those were to do with night-time operations. 'Most notably, I'll be issuing a ministerial direction to Airservices Australia to make reciprocal runway operations the default operating mode at night, including the use of a specific noise abatement procedure, when both are safe to do so,' she added. Reciprocal runway operations (RRO) involve planes taking off and landing in the same direction – in this case, the southwest – but at opposite ends of the runway. This aims to minimise the impact of noise on the most heavily populated areas of Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Wallacia. Other changes included the removal of the 'Runway 23 Northeast Night (RRO)' flight path and reallocating aircraft to a southeastern flight path, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. A recommendation for the creation of an environmental monitoring program to oversee the impacts of aircraft noise within and adjacent to the Greater Blue Mountains area was also made. The airport is expected to accommodate 10 million passengers each year and 81,000 air traffic movements per year by 2033. The construction of the 3.7km runway has been completed ready for aircraft. Testing is set to begin.
The Age
6 days ago
- General
- The Age
Flight path changes for Western Sydney Airport revealed
The flight paths for Sydney's new international airport have been authorised, revealing a range of changes aiming to spare some of western Sydney's more populated areas from overnight noise. The Blue Mountains and Wallacia will benefit from changes made to the flight paths for Western Sydney International Airport, unveiled by federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King on Wednesday. Stepping out on the newly completed 3.7-kilometre runway to announce the authorisation of the paths, on a freezing cold morning in Sydney's west, King called it a 'crucial step' to opening the airport in late 2026. The flights paths were first revealed in 2023, with a final Environmental Impact Statement released in November 2024. Following feedback from the community, King said a total of five changes were made to help minimise aircraft noise, four of which relate to night-time operations. 'We've learnt lessons from other airports, which is why I have imposed a number of additional conditions that will reduce our aircraft noise,' King said. 'Most notably, I'll be issuing a ministerial direction to Airservices Australia … to make reciprocal runway operations the default operating mode at night, including the use of a specific noise abatement procedure, when both are safe to do so.' Reciprocal runway operations, or RRO, is a flight path design where planes take off and land from the same direction, but at the opposite end of the runway. When RRO mode is in use and when traffic permits, jet aircraft departing to destinations in the north, north-west and west would be kept on runway heading – travelling in the same direction of the runway – longer, until clear of Silverdale, before being processed by air traffic control to their destinations.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Flight path changes for Western Sydney Airport revealed
The flight paths for Sydney's new international airport have been authorised, revealing a range of changes aiming to spare some of western Sydney's more populated areas from overnight noise. The Blue Mountains and Wallacia will benefit from changes made to the flight paths for Western Sydney International Airport, unveiled by federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King on Wednesday. Stepping out on the newly completed 3.7-kilometre runway to announce the authorisation of the paths, on a freezing cold morning in Sydney's west, King called it a 'crucial step' to opening the airport in late 2026. The flights paths were first revealed in 2023, with a final Environmental Impact Statement released in November 2024. Following feedback from the community, King said a total of five changes were made to help minimise aircraft noise, four of which relate to night-time operations. 'We've learnt lessons from other airports, which is why I have imposed a number of additional conditions that will reduce our aircraft noise,' King said. 'Most notably, I'll be issuing a ministerial direction to Airservices Australia … to make reciprocal runway operations the default operating mode at night, including the use of a specific noise abatement procedure, when both are safe to do so.' Reciprocal runway operations, or RRO, is a flight path design where planes take off and land from the same direction, but at the opposite end of the runway. When RRO mode is in use and when traffic permits, jet aircraft departing to destinations in the north, north-west and west would be kept on runway heading – travelling in the same direction of the runway – longer, until clear of Silverdale, before being processed by air traffic control to their destinations.
