Moreton Bay trial aims to reduce noise over suburbs
More flights into and out of Brisbane Airport will be routed via Moreton Bay for an 18-month trial period to relax tailwind restrictions for aircraft and reduce flight noise in the city suburbs.
Complaints about increased aircraft noise have plagued the airport since the new parallel runway, now officially referred to as the west runway, opened to air traffic in 2020.
Brisbane Airport head of airspace management Tim Boyle said he hoped the trial, formulated in consultation with airlines, would ultimately lead to more aircraft movement over Moreton Bay rather than the suburbs.
A United Airlines flight arriving from Los Angeles after landing in Moreton Bay.Credit: Brisbane Airport
“Safety is always our top priority at Brisbane Airport,” he said.
“Passengers won’t notice any difference, but every time a pilot chooses the takeoff path over water, it reduces the impact on society.
“As part of this long-term project to reduce noise for our society, even a handful of flights each week will provide valuable data throughout the 18-month trial period.”
Currently, planes at Brisbane Airport cannot take off or land with more than five knots of tailwind, which can force pilots to use flight paths over crowded areas.
The trial will allow pilots to take off between 22:00 and 06:00 with a 10-knot tailwind as long as certain conditions are met.
A tailwind of 10 knots or less, along with a crosswind of no more than 20 knots, including gusts, will be required and will only apply when the runway is dry and there are no storms within 30 nautical miles (about 56 kilometers) from the airport.
