Residents near Sydney Airport heading for increased aircraft noise

Those residing in the vicinity of the north-south runway flight path of Sydney Airport in Australia are in for more aircraft noise as work starts on October 14, 2008, on the controversial safety area at the western end of the runway.

Noise pollution has been one of the biggest complaints against the aviation industry. Despite the problem being acknowledged, very little actual change has happened in the aircraft noise pollution problem near airports.

The construction plan for the safety area at the western end of the east-west runway, costing $85 million, was approved by Australia’s federal government in August 2008 following wide-ranging consultations with the public.

Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, is located in Sydney’s suburb of Mascot. It is the major airport serving Sydney, and is a major hub for Qantas Airways, the flag carrier of Australia. Sydney Airport, one of the oldest continually operated airports in the world and also the busiest airport in Australia, is managed by Sydney Airport Corporation Limited. The airport has three runways – popularly, one of them is known as the ‘east-west’ runway and the other two, the ‘north-south’ runway.

A proposed larger safety area for the runway is a mandatory safety requirement set by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and meets international aviation standards, according to Russell Balding, chief executive of Sydney Airport.

When it comes choosing between aircraft safety and noise pollution, obviously aircraft safety wins out.

In a statement, Balding explained: “ The larger safety area for the runway is designed to protect passengers in the event that an aircraft overruns or lands short of a runway. There would be no change to the airport curfew and cap of 80 aircraft movements per hour.”

“The Sydney Airport,” Russell Balding said in the statement, “apologises to people who will be affected by this vital runway safety project, but it is essential that we comply with the Australian government’s air safety regulations.”

The first phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by the middle of June 2009, when restrictions on the use of the east-west runway will be eased. “The second phase involves an easing of the restrictions on the east-west runway, and the east-west runway will be available before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., allowing a greater ability to reinstate noise sharing and less chance of operational disruptions due to strong cross-winds. This phase lasts up to mid-April 2010,” Balding said.

Once the final phase of the construction is over, which is expected by June 2010, the runway would be used for usual operations.

Meanwhile, Sydney Airport is writing to over 105,000 homes to warn them of increased aircraft noise and other disruptions arising from construction work on the east-west runway. The noise pollution will disturb them during the 17 hours of operation daily.

During the construction work, the statement warned, aircraft noise would increase over Sydney’s north-west runway. The result: The residents will have to endure an estimated 16-24 extra flights a day on average. The eastern suburbs will have about 8 to 16 extra flights, and the Sutherland Shire will have slightly more.

However, those living under the flight paths to the east-west runway will experience a decrease in the number of aircraft flying over them.

Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Federal Transport Minister, has promised the residents that the noise pollution would be reduced by shortening the construction period from the original 15 months to 8 months and by working 22 hours a day, seven days a week. Use of the east-west runway would also be limited during the construction work, according to Albanese.