We are working hard every day to minimise the impacts aircraft noise can bring to some residents. Brisbane Airport has deepened its efforts to work with all of our partners to reduce flight path noise. While there are no quick fixes, we are optimistic that further improvements are at hand.
Flight Path Optimisation and Post Implementation Review
Airservices Australia concluded their Post Implementation Review (PIR) of Brisbane Airport’s New Parallel Runway in December 2022. BAC has strongly supported this review and was an active stakeholder during the process. BAC team members attended all community consultation sessions held across Brisbane in September 2022.
You can read the report and the recommendations on the Airservices Australia website here.
BAC continues to work closely with Airservices Australia and the wider aviation industry on commencing work on the priority projects highlighted in this report.
For information regarding the process and to register and subscribe for updates on the Brisbane Airport Flight Path Post Implementation Review, visit the Airservices Australia website.
SODPROPS Tailwind Proposal
SODPROPS 7kt Tailwind Proposal
On 29 April 2022, Airservices Australia in partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) made a further submission the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) outlining a safety case for increasing the allowable tailwind for arriving and departing aircraft from 5 knots to 7 knots.
Further information and updates on the outcome of this will be published on the Airservices Engage website.
SODPROPS 10kt Tailwind Proposal
On 31 March 2021, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) made a submission to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requesting a review of the allowable tailwind for arriving and departing aircraft, from 5 knots to 10 knots.
A copy of the submission to CASA is available to download below.
On 20 July 2021, BAC was advised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that the request to lift the allowable tailwind for arriving and departing aircraft at Brisbane Airport from 5 knots to 10 knots had been unsuccessful.
A copy of the response received by CASA is available to download below.
While we are disappointed, we accept CASA’s position and share its commitment to safety as the number one priority for air traffic operations.
Nonetheless, BAC is also committed to continuing to pursue improved noise outcomes for our neighbours and we have already commenced work to investigate an alternative tailwind option to the 10 knot request that has been rejected. We will be seeking aviation industry support for this and we remain hopeful that with that support we can submit a case to CASA that will be favourably reviewed.
Any improvement that can be safely achieved is worth pursuing.
Technical Airspace Design Workshop
Following on from an action arising out of a Brisbane Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (BACACG) meeting, a Technical Airspace Design Workshop was held on 24 February 2021, with representatives in attendance from BAC, Airservices Australia, Virgin Australia, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman, BACACG, the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance and the broader community.
A summary of the agreed-to-actions from the technical airspace design workshop is available to download.
NADP1 and NADP2 Noise Improvement Trial
In 2019, following concerns raised by a group within the community related to the expected height of aircraft over residential areas shortly after take-off, BAC together with Airservices Australia undertook a trial to assess the noise improvement potential of the two Noise Abatement Departure Procedures (NADPs) available in modern jet aircraft, NADP1 and NADP2.
The outcomes of this trial are available for review below.
Property Values & Aircraft Noise Study
In 2013, BAC commissioned the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to undertake a long-term study to explore the potential impact of aircraft noise on Brisbane residential property prices in response to community concerns about the impact of flight paths and aircraft noise on property value.
The report "Impact of Aircraft Noise on Brisbane Residential Property Sectors" analyses the investment performance of 53 suburbs across Brisbane under current and future flight paths. The suburbs identified in the study are subject to a range of exposures to aircraft noise from existing and future runway operations at Brisbane Airport.
Commissioned in 2013, the first study undertakes an historical analysis from 1988-2013 (1988, being the year the current Airport opened). Updated each year, the report currently analyses 31 years of historical sales data for property in Brisbane (1988-2018).
This report is reviewed and updated annually by the original authors; Professor Chris Eves (RMIT) and Dr Andrea Blake (QUT), and is considered one of the most comprehensive long-term studies of the impact of aircraft noise on residential property value undertaken globally.
The most recent report (1988-2020) concludes that:
“The full 33-year analysis also confirms that the suburbs under the existing runway flight paths and within the inner city and middle ring locations of Brisbane are still showing higher average annual capital returns compared to other less well-located suburbs of Brisbane. This is still evidenced by the 33-year average annual returns for Brisbane suburbs under existing flight paths showing average annual returns over 33 years in excess of 8% per annum, well above the Brisbane average of 6.53%.”
The original report (1988-2013) and each annual update can be downloaded below:
Original Report
Annual Updates