Amendments to departure operations

Airservices Australia is pleased to advise that the first changes to aircraft operations are being made as a result of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane.

Turboprop departures to the north between 5am to 6am

Between 5am and 6am, the Brisbane Airport Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs) permit turboprop (propeller-driven) and other non-jet aircraft to depart over land from the new runway (19R). This enables Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) (where arrivals and departures are managed over Moreton Bay) to continue to operate over this period as traffic volumes increase, by removing turboprop operations from the traffic being managed over Moreton Bay.

When SODPROPS mode is not in operation, and when the wind is blowing from the south, non-jet departures are currently managed from the legacy runway over land prior to 6am. This is due to the approval condition preventing use of the new runway over land during night-time hours (10pm to 6am), other than the exception noted above when in SODPROPS mode.

Download the “Alternative over land turboprop departure operations 5am to 6am – North” fact sheet for more information.

As an outcome of Phase 1 options assessment, the following changes are now being implemented:

  1. Removal of the NAP that allows the use of the new runway for non-jet aircraft departures between 5am and 6am (i.e. turboprop departures prior to 6am will be managed via the legacy runway when in SODPROPS mode or when wind is blowing from the south)
  2. Introduction of a new NAP that requires all non-jet departures from the legacy runway over land to turn left immediately after take-off (at runway end and 600ft in altitude), to track back over the airport/industrial land to continue their climb over water.

This will apply to northbound and westbound non-jet aircraft, between 10pm and 6am, with the exception of medical flights or where required for the safe operation of the airspace. They will be required to remain over water until they reach 5000ft and will then be directed according to their destination.

This change is being introduced as a six-month trial to assess how well the aircraft can make the turn and to monitor noise impacts. Aircraft tracking and noise monitoring outcomes will be shared with the public.

After 6am, all aircraft operations will be managed according to the relevant priority mode. Where traffic levels and safety permit, non-jet aircraft departing on the legacy runway will continue to be directed to turn early and climb over water to reduce impact on residential areas.

Feedback on the trial can be provided over the next six months here. We are particularly interested to understand:

  1. Has the change improved noise outcomes, and if so where?
  2. Has the change resulted any new communities experiencing these operations, and if so where?
  3. Any other feedback you would like to provide on this change.

Reinstatement of pre-existing legacy runway over water departure path to the west

For safety reasons, a proposed change was presented to the community to replace a departure path from the new runway over water, with the departure path used prior to the new runway for aircraft travelling to the west.

The current operations require a high degree of tactical management to address conflicts between turboprop departures to the north and turning jet aircraft to the west near Bribie Island.

In addition to removing a potential safety issue, this change reduces overflight of the Bribie Island community.

The flight path that is being reinstated for this departure is the same path used during single runway operations, with aircraft departing over water, turning right and crossing back over the coastline at the Lytton Industrial area.

Download the “Replace new runway departure to the west with pre-existing legacy runway departure” fact sheet for more information.

Please note:

We are able to implement these improvements now, as both involve the use of existing procedures and do not require design of new flight paths.

Other options being progressed from Phase 1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane require detailed design and will undergo further community engagement before changes are made to aircraft operations.

These changes will come into effect on Wednesday 13 December 2023.