Close this panel

FAQs for 'Flight Paths and Noise Management'

Q. How does Brisbane Airport manage noise?

A: A comprehensive guide to strategies around noise management, as well as initiatives and efforts undertaken locally and globally to reduce the effects of aircraft noise can be found here.

Q: How can I view flight paths, especially in relation to my suburb?

A: There are a number of ways to view flights paths used for arriving and departing aircraft. You can select from:

 

  • WebTrak: Airservices Australia’s WebTrak is an online portal that allows user to view where and how high aircraft fly over Brisbane. The service covers suburbs up to 55kms from Brisbane Airport and flights up to 3,600m above ground level. You can monitor data 40 minutes after the aircraft has arrived or departed and information on specific flights are stored for three months.
  • Transparent Noise Information Package (TNIP): TNIP was developed by the Australian Government. BAC has expanded on the earlier government model, enhancing the package so that it provides users with access to area specific noise information through a user-friendly online system.
  • Noise and Flight Path Monitoring System (NFPMS): Through this system, operated by Airservices, quarterly reports are generated that contain information about flights paths used in and out of capital city airports, including Brisbane. Visit Airservices Australia and follow the links from Noise Resources.
Q: What are Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 aircraft?

A: Much of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) effort to address aircraft noise over the past 40 years has been aimed at reducing noise at its source.


Aircraft and helicopters built today must meet the noise certification standards adopted by the Council of ICAO. The initial standards for jet-powered aircraft designed before 1977 were included in Chapter 2 of Annex 16.

 

Subsequently, newer aircraft were required to meet the stricter standards contained in Chapter 3 of the Annex.The Boeing 737-300/400, Boeing 767 and Airbus A319 are examples of Chapter 3 aircraft types. In June 2001 the Council adopted a new Chapter 4 noise standard, more stringent than that contained in Chapter 3.


Starting 1 January 2006, the new standard became applicable to newly certificated aeroplanes and to Chapter 3 aeroplanes for which re-certification to Chapter 4 is requested. No Chapter 2 aircraft operate into or out of Brisbane Airport.

Q: Where can I direct complaints about airport noise?

A: Airservices manages complaints and enquiries about aircraft noise. Contact the Noise Complaints and Information Service on 1800 802 584 (freecall) or email ncis@airservicesaustralia.com.

 

  • Complaints can also be logged via the WebTrak system described in this document.
  • If you are unable to have your question satisfactorily answered by Airservices Australia you can lodge a complaint with the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman by writing to Aircraft Noise Ombudsman, GPO Box 1985, Canberra, ACT, 2601.
Q: Why do some international aircraft arrive and depart Brisbane between midnight and dawn?

A: The times at which international flights arrive or depart Brisbane are set by ‘hub’ airports, which are responsible for scheduling air traffic worldwide, i.e. Singapore or Dubai.

 

Brisbane is not a hub airport and must meet the schedules as prescribed by these other ports if Brisbane passengers are to have convenient connections overseas.

Q: Why isn’t there a curfew at every Australian capital city airport?

A: Unlike Brisbane, some capital city airports are located very close to residential communities. Cities such as Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide are curfewed because of this proximity.

 

If a curfew was in place in every capital city airport then essentially Australia would be closed for global business between 11pm and 6am.Brisbane Airport’s substantial buffer zones, proximity to Moreton Bay and night-time operational procedures provide the means for it to operate 24/7.

 

In fact, when the Australian Government selected the new site for the airport in 1988 it was envisaged it would be able to operate 24/7 because of its many natural advantages.