Investigations
Investigations
Airservices proactively works with the airport and the community to investigate, trial and implement changes to improve aircraft noise outcomes.
Information about Air Traffic Management and how airspace works is found on the Airservices Australia website here.
Runway 12 departures
A complainant suggested that aircraft departing from Runway 12 should turn left on departure rather than right. This was found to be not feasible on safety grounds as it would bring these aircraft into conflict with aircraft using existing arrival and departure routes. Managing these conflicts would be too complex for air traffic controllers, increasing the margin for error beyond safe levels. The overriding factor in managing aircraft is safety. All aviation regulations, air traffic control procedures and pilot procedures are designed within this remit.
Runway 12 is only used at Jandakot approximately 15 per cent of the time, but when it is used this provides residents in the Gateway Shopping Centre and Thomson’s Lake areas a small respite from aircraft noise.
Simulated engine failures
Concerns were raised through the complaint process about simulated engine failure training which was occurring over residential areas. Airservices worked with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to determine regulatory and air traffic control safety requirements. This resulted in new engine stall procedures being implemented by air traffic control. These require single engine aircraft to practice simulated engine failures over the runways within the aerodrome boundaries. Air traffic control monitor compliance with the procedures.
Circuit direction
Airservices is unable to move the location of the circuit because this is derived from rules set down by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). However in 2015 Airservices investigated and reviewed how the circuit directions were being used. It was determined that air traffic control were doing everything possible to vary the circuit direction, having regard to the preferred runways (06 Right and 21 Left), and whilst maintaining compliance with the requirements set by CASA.
Training area
Airservices investigated moving the western boundary of the
Jandakot Training Area to align with the Kwinana Freeway. As this airspace is not under the jurisdiction of air traffic control, this issue was then transferred to CASA to determine whether or not this could proceed. CASA did not progress this request due to safety reasons. Jandakot Airport’s Fly Neighbourly Agreement provides guidance about where and how aircraft should operate in the training area. These include when operating to/from/within the Training Area to avoid populated areas where possible, and when leaving Jandakot controlled airspace to climb to the highest practicable level.
Circuit training changes
In 2010 a review of circuit training resulted in a reduction in the hours when this could be conducted. Previously training could begin at 6am Monday to Saturday – this was changed to 7am weekdays and 8am on Saturdays. Training now ceases at 6pm on Saturdays instead of 10:30pm. The number of aircraft permitted to conduct circuits was reduced from ten to eight by day, and from unlimited to five outside Tower hours.
Community consultation
Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG) meetings are independent forums where community members and organisations can raise opinions and issues. These meetings address planning and development issues as well as operational matters such as aircraft noise and provide an opportunity for communication and consultation, although they may not be public forums.
Airservices attends the Jandakot Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG) meetings to provide information to the community and assist in discussions on aviation matters.