Ballina Byron Gateway Airport Flight Path Use Changes

Consultation has concluded

The use of the arrival flight paths into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is changing.

QantasLink is equipping its fleet of Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to be Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP-AR) capable. RNP-AR technology allows the aircraft to be flown along a precise flight path with greater accuracy and provides alerts to the flight crew if the aircraft deviates from the planned route. Because of the greater accuracy, it also allows flights to be flown more efficiently and help to reduce fuel burn, track miles and emissions.

The RNP-AR procedure for Ballina was published in early 2014 and is available for all aircraft types. However, it can only be flown by aircraft that have been equipped with the required technology and where the flight crew have been authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to conduct RNP-AR operations.

The implementation of RNP-AR technology on the QantasLink Q400 fleet means that propeller-driven (turboprop) aircraft are now able to use both the existing RNP approaches (shown in red below) as well as the existing RNP-AR procedures (shown in blue) into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport for both runway ends (runway 06 and runway 24). As a result of this change, you may now notice both jet and turboprop aircraft flying in the location of the RNP-AR approaches as well as a reduction in the number of turboprop movements on the RNP approaches.

The use of the arrival flight paths into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is changing.

QantasLink is equipping its fleet of Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to be Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP-AR) capable. RNP-AR technology allows the aircraft to be flown along a precise flight path with greater accuracy and provides alerts to the flight crew if the aircraft deviates from the planned route. Because of the greater accuracy, it also allows flights to be flown more efficiently and help to reduce fuel burn, track miles and emissions.

The RNP-AR procedure for Ballina was published in early 2014 and is available for all aircraft types. However, it can only be flown by aircraft that have been equipped with the required technology and where the flight crew have been authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to conduct RNP-AR operations.

The implementation of RNP-AR technology on the QantasLink Q400 fleet means that propeller-driven (turboprop) aircraft are now able to use both the existing RNP approaches (shown in red below) as well as the existing RNP-AR procedures (shown in blue) into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport for both runway ends (runway 06 and runway 24). As a result of this change, you may now notice both jet and turboprop aircraft flying in the location of the RNP-AR approaches as well as a reduction in the number of turboprop movements on the RNP approaches.

Consultation has concluded

For questions about this change and/or matters relating to current aircraft operations, contact our Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) (external link).