Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) is committed to minimising noise impacts of Brisbane Airport (BNE) operations on neighbouring communities, while responding to the economic and social drivers for the continued growth of Brisbane Airport.
Through our community engagement program, we strive to maintain a clear understanding of who our neighbouring communities are and what matters to them by generating informed, respectful, honest and ongoing conversations, particularly when it comes to our airport operations and how they may be affected. This includes listening to suggestions about ways to reduce aircraft noise and investigating them thoroughly.
Together with Airservices Australia and our airline partners, we’ve developed and implemented noise abatement programs and are committed to continue to work with the community and industry in investigating a number of initiatives to drive continuous improvement to the noise impacts of flight paths over residential areas.
Following feedback from residents wanting to better understand noise levels in their neighbourhood, BAC purchased a noise monitoring terminal that is deployed for short periods at different locations across Brisbane. The monitor enables us to observe the noise abatement procedures, investigate improved noise outcomes and share this information with the community.
Monitor data source: Envirosuite and Airservices Australia
The Gap (live 01 November 2023 - 02 April 2024)
Past Monitor Locations
Taringa Noise Monitor (live 30 May 2023 - 14 August 2023)
Redlands Noise Monitor including Wellington Point and Thornlands (live 13 January 2023 - 30 April 2023)
Coorparoo Noise Monitor (live 19 May 2022 - 01 July 2022)
Cedar Creek Noise Monitor (live 07 February - 11 April 2022)
Upper Brookfield Noise Monitor (live 25 October 2021 - 14 January 2022)
Balmoral Hill Noise Monitor (live 30 July - 08 October 2021)
FAQS
Why is the monitor only in a location for a short time?
To enable us to investigate specific community concerns at different locations. The monitor will be deployed at each location for approximately 3 monthsto allow sufficient data to be captured to validate any findings.
Why can't I see the monitor on Webtrak?
The monitors are not part of the Airservices Noise and Flight Path Monitoring System (NFPMS). More information on the Airservices monitors is available here.
Who is managing the monitor?
We have engaged Envirosuite to manage the installation, calibration of the noise monitor. Envirosuite is an independent Australian company that specialise in environment and noise monitoring systems, Envirosuite are responsible for the operation of noise monitoring systems in a number of countries globally, including here in Australia, where they manage the Airservices Noise and Flight Path Monitoring Systems (NFPMS).
At the end of each monitoring period, Envirosuite will provide a detailed report on the findings, correlating aircraft noise levels with aircraft type, height and frequency. The reports will be published to this web page.
How is the monitor calibrated?
Noise monitoring terminals are calibrated on location against background noise levels to make sure they are not triggered by general background noise sources. Additionally the noise events are calibrated against actual aircraft movements over the noise monitor (matched) to make sure the actual aircraft details are matched to the noise event.
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 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.
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.
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.