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Brisbane Airport has launched a voluntary trial to route more flights over Moreton Bay and reduce noise impact on surrounding suburbs, particularly at night.
The trial will see flights permitted to depart in tailwinds of five to 10 knots during overnight hours (10pm to 6am) for the first six months, expanding to arrivals for the next 12 months. It comes as 63 per cent of aircraft between those hours have arrived or departed over water in the last six months.
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Flights will be cleared to take off in these tailwinds at the pilots’ discretion if crosswinds (including gusts) are 20 knots or less; there are no thunderstorms present or forecast within 30 nautical miles; the runway is dry; there is no reported or forecast wind shear; air traffic control is adequately staffed; and there are “acceptable” levels of traffic complexity.
“If the above conditions have been met, pilots will receive an audio notification via the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) system operated by Airservices Australia.
“The trial has been developed and funded by Brisbane Airport, with PlanSafe leading the development of the trial procedures and data collection process which will track wind and operational performance data from participating aircraft.”
Tim Boyle, head of airspace management at Brisbane Airport, stressed that safety is “always the top priority” as the trial commences with the support of CASA and Airservices Australia.
“Passengers won’t notice any difference, but each time a pilot chooses an over the water departure path, it reduces the impact on the community,” he said.
“Even a handful of flights each week will provide valuable data over the 18‑month trial as part of this long-term project to reduce noise.
“Brisbane Airport is committed to collaborating with airlines, Airservices Australia, CASA, and the community on a balanced aviation approach that delivers sustainable outcomes for Brisbane and Queensland.”
Noise issues have been a flashpoint at Brisbane Airport since the completion of its new parallel runway in July 2020, which allowed more flight paths to open up, but affected nearby communities in the process.
There were various calls – including from the Greens – for caps and curfews, though owners of Brisbane Airport Corporation pointed to a potential $1 billion annual cost to the city’s economy. Others, including BAC, supported more flights being routed over Moreton Bay.
The airport in 2023 had a breakthrough when Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific agreed to fly in tailwinds of up to 7 knots at the airport, allowing more night-time flights over Moreton Bay rather than populated areas.
Starting late last year, air traffic controllers also increased the use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) at Brisbane, allowing more flights to take off and land over water.
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