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Category: Air Transport / Federal Government / Regional Development

ILS brings plane noise over more Gold Coast houses

Monday, 25 Jan 2016 15:30:32

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Tens of thousands more Gold Coast residents will be affected by plane noise after the Federal Government approved a new instrument landing system, or ILS, at the local airport.

Key points:

  • Commonwealth approves a instrument landing system (ILS) for Gold Coast Airport
  • ILS will place aircraft on landing approach from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta
  • Opponents say 60,000 people live under the new flight path

Federal Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss approved ILS for Gold Coast Airport, which had been pushing for the system for seven years.

"Gold Coast Airport is currently the sixth busiest airport in Australia, but the only one of the 12 busiest not to have ILS capability," Mr Truss said.

The airport's chief operating officer, Marion Charlton, said the system would provide greater flight reliability during poor weather conditions, allowing pilots to get closer to the runway before deciding whether it was safe to land.

"It's a great day for the Gold Coast, for the entire community," she said.

"We're getting an ILS, we're going to be the same as every other international airport."

Up to 50 flights a year are diverted away from the Gold Coast due to bad weather.

"I think, generally, the community understands the need for this," Ms Charlton said.

Flight path from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta

Stop the ILS Group spokesman Sven Puetter said 60,000 people living under the new flight path, which stretches from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta, could be affected.

"Obviously we are disappointed that the decision has come in that way," he said.

"But we are not disappointed from the point of view that the Gold Coast now fully understands the ILS system and what it will do for the Gold Coast."

I know that when tourists and locals are coming back home, with the ILS I know they can land safely.

Tom Tate, Gold Coast Mayor

Under the existing required navigation performance (RNP) or visual system, pilots approach over water and plane noise only affects suburbs close to the airport.

With ILS, planes will line up from 18 kilometres away and descend over land from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta.

An independent study commissioned by Gold Coast Airport found 65 per cent of people living under the new flight path supported an ILS.

It will only be used a few times each day unless there is bad weather.

About six million people a year use Gold Coast Airport, a figure forecast to rise to more than 16 million by 2031.

More passengers will mean more planes, which is what concerns many residents living under the new flight path.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he supported the introduction of an ILS.

"I am a fan of safety for the Gold Coast. I know that when tourists and locals are coming back home, with the ILS I know they can land safely," he said.

The system is expected to become operational early next year.

AustraliaPlus


 

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