New Sydney flight paths to start in July ahead of WSI opening

“This is a critical next step to ensuring our skies are ready to open to Western Sydney Airport. With two major airports sharing Sydney’s airspace, there will be a small reshuffle in the skies to make way for new flights coming in and out of Western Sydney,” said Transport Minister Catherine King.

“We’ve worked to get the balance right, ensuring Sydney’s airports can operate efficiently, while taking nearby residents’ concerns about noise seriously and incorporating their feedback into our plans.

“These paths are not physical infrastructure, so our conversations with community and the airports about how they can adapt into the future can be ongoing.

“Our new airspace advisory board will monitor and respond to aircraft noise and flight path issues during the early years of the airport’s operations.”

The flight paths have been the subject of more than 50 in-person feedback sessions and more than 8,400 submissions, the government says, and are designed to “maximise safety as well as balance the growth of the airports with the needs of the community on the ground”.

“Consistent with the flight path authorisation, RRO (reciprocal runway operations) take-off and landing arrangements will be utilised whenever possible between 11pm and 5.30am,” the Transport Minister’s office said in a press release.

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“When used with the associated noise abatement procedure, [RRO] will reduce aircraft transiting Wallacia, the populated areas of the Blue Mountains area, and the most heavily populated parts of Western Sydney at night.

“Airservices Australia has introduced a noise monitoring program for WSI. In addition to nine permanent noise monitors, four temporary noise monitors will be moved around different locations over a five-year period to provide ongoing, responsive monitoring for Western Sydney communities.”

According to Airservices Australia CEO Rob Sharp, Airservices has been working hard to support the new airport, including the installation of digital aerodrome services, or a “virtual tower”, that will be monitored from Eastern Creek.

“Airservices is making a substantial investment in people, technology, community engagement and training to ensure we can support the opening of Australia’s first major greenfield airport in decades,” he said.

“Our teams are preparing to provide safe and well-planned air traffic control operations through our Digital Aerodrome Service, along with the critical Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting capability which will be at the ready in the event a rapid response is required at the aerodrome.”

The first passenger flights to WSI are expected in October.