Gold Coast Airport - Changes to High Altitude Routes

Changes to high altitude routes for jets arriving from the west and northwest

5 April 2019

Airservices conducted community consultation on the proposed changes to high altitude routes for jets arriving from the west and northwest from 5 February 2019 – 19 March 2019.

Airservices received one submission about the proposal. The submission was not supportive of the proposal and suggested that it would lead to concentrated noise.

Due to limited feedback and no alternative suggestions for flight path design, the change will proceed to implementation on 15 August 2019.

5 February 2019

When will this change occur?

  • Airservices proposes to implement changes to high altitude routes for jets arriving from the west and northwest to Gold Coast Airport from April 2019.

Why are the changes necessary?

  • The proposed changes will create predictable traffic flow for aircraft using these routes and will improve safety by reducing workload for pilots and air traffic controllers.

What is going to change?

  • Currently jet aircraft arriving at high altitudes (8,000 – 20,000 feet) from the west and northwest into the Gold Coast are not required to flight plan along specific routes.
  • The proposed change will specify that jet aircraft fly set routes, using existing waypoints.
  • The proposed change may result in increased concentration of traffic, due to jet aircraft following the prescribed routes, but this will not lead to an overall increase in the number of aircraft movements.
  • There will be no change to aircraft altitudes or aircraft types as a result of the proposed changes.

Operations at Gold Coast Airport are restricted by a curfew between 11pm and 6am Queensland time, aircraft will not be flying these routes during the curfew hours.

For more information please see the Gold Coast Airport High Altitude Route Changes Fact Sheet (February 2019) under Resources.

How can I have my say?

Feedback can be provided:

For general information on flight path changes, contact the Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) on:

  • 1800 802 584 (free call)
  • 131 450 (interpreter service)

Feedback closes on 19 March 2019.

Resources

Gold Coast Airport High Altitude Route Changes Fact Sheet (February 2019)

This page provides a summary of the flight path and airspace changes we implemented in 2019.