Outback revival

The gas ‘explosion’ has driven the Miles upgrade, reportedly funded by Australia Pacific LNG with 900 local FIFO staff. The result is a lit 1590x30m sealed runway with a bearing capacity of PCN 19 at a tyre pressure of 970mpa. No NDB or R-Nav (GPS) approach is presently planned. To date many operators have shown interest in Miles, some of which operate aircraft more than the runway’s bearing capacity that would require a dispensation. Some estimate around 6,000 passengers a month will use Miles. But it offers two other possibilities – restoration of scheduled services to Brisbane and a reduction in Brisbane air movements.

Chinchilla, 20km from Miles, is the present Western Downs gas hub where two FIFO operators alone generate around 400 movements a month (up to 25 each day) from Brisbane. These passengers could be handled by just three return Dash 8 or ATR services a day to Miles.

Miles with a 7,000 population catchment, similar to Roma, should support a daily Same Day Return Roma/Miles/Brisbane service by Dash 8. The air distances 75nm Roma/Miles and 160 Miles/Brisbane suits such types. Roma’s 62 return Dash 8s weekly run at 30 different times, not providing a daily SDR pattern. That is not a criticism of Qantas but a fact of FIFO rosters. Reincarnated Moranbah gets 54 Qantas and Virgin flights to and from Brisbane weekly, running at 36 different times, but no true SDR timing to Brisbane.

A Roma-Miles-Brisbane daily service would probably suit a Dash 8-100 or -200, but Qantas has no -100s left and only two -200s based in Brisbane, primarily used on Lord Howe island runs, thus reducing availability for a new Miles-Roma service. Skytrans has been building up -100s and -300s, while Rex/Pel Air has Saab 340s based at Brisbane. If Qantas doesn’t fill the slot someone else may.

To grasp the overall picture Roma’s situation must be considered. Its previous daily F27/Dash 8 Brisbane service was underwritten by Charleville loads, but in 2012/13 Roma handled 170,308 passengers mostly resource-led FIFO workers. This compares to just 43,000 in 2009/10. Some 2013/14 estimates are 200,000. Charters comprise large numbers of King Airs and smaller types to and from Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Archerfield and Toowoomba. Alliance introduced Fokker 50s and Fokker 70s, and Skytrans Dash 8-100s and 300s on Brisbane-Roma FIFO charters. The latest entrant, Vincent Aviation, has introduced a BAe 146 from Essendon. That aircraft also positions to Brisbane to operate a Middlemount FIFO service.

Such appears the FIFO demand, China implosion fears aside, that if Qantas is to maintain its hold on Roma and achieve a similar outcome at Miles it may have to obtain more Dash 8-300s quickly, due the long lead time on new Q400 deliveries.

But size matters. Western Downs Council – owner of Miles and Chinchilla – does not wish to get into the cost of security screening – mandatory for aircraft of more than 20 tonnes whether operating scheduled or charter services. Given some Q400s and Fokker 50s just exceed 20 tonnes MTOW, perhaps a passenger load number might be a better yardstick..

And Wandoan, 70km by road from Miles with a population of 380, is moving to get a large coal mine with 800 staff on common FIFO cycles generating possibly 40,000 passengers a year, which would drive yet another airport upgrade.