Program update: October 2025

Program update

Welcome to this update on the progress of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane.

Over the year to date we have:

• engaged on preferred options for Package 3, along with one new option*
• continued to progress Package 4 actions*
• reviewed feedback on the Phase 2 Options Assessment Report
• completed assessment of the non-jet departure trial
• completed initial options assessment of procedural departure paths for Archerfield Airport
• further developed reporting for use of SODPROPS mode.

* This work is being undertaken with the support of our consultants, Trax International, who are specialists in flight path and airspace design.

Achievements of the program to date

Since commencing delivery of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane in January 2023, we have:

^ Increased the use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) through the introduction of a SODPROPS Operating Plan and changes to flight paths implemented in November 2024.

The following comparison considers two months before and after the changes, with similar availability of suitable weather conditions. The changes we have made have clearly resulted in more flights being managed in this mode when suitable conditions are present.

^ Increased the altitude of overwater departures over the Redlands area as part of the redesign of SODPROPS and standard over water departure flight paths implemented in November 2024.

The following comparison of altitudes considers standard operating mode departures and SODPROPS mode departures. Planes are higher over communities, reducing noise impacts.

˅ Reduced overflight of communities by night-time and early morning (10pm to 6am) non-jet aircraft departures as part of a trial implemented in December 2023 which turned planes early to have them turn left and climb over water before turning in their direction of travel.

The following comparison of operations across pre-trial and trial periods considers the number of non-jet movements over communities during these hours, with the example of Northgate which is frequently subject to these flights.

> Shifted the overwater departure path to the north-west (waypoint WACKO) from the new (western) runway to the legacy (eastern) runway, turning over water to gain altitude before crossing airport land and then tracking over communities at a higher altitude, implemented in December 2023.

The following comparison considers the average altitude of planes where they first cross communities, now following a similar path as pre-new runway but at a higher altitude.

+ Introduced new segregated operating modes (continency modes for reduced capacity or single runway operations), implemented in February 2024.

Prior to this change, the two existing segregated modes placed all overland operations over new runway communities. With the additional modes, these operations can now be shared between both new (western) and legacy (eastern) runway communities.

What’s next

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback on our most recent Package 3 proposals; we appreciate your valuable time and effort in contributing to our decision-making. We continue to work with Trax International to carefully review and analyse all community input and have commenced our formal assessment of the preferred options. Assessment considers essential safety and operational standards, and environmental and community impacts, as per the Fight Path Design Principles, along with feedback received. You can download the Flight Path Design Principles here: Flight Path Design Principles (1.2MB PDF)

If the decision is made to implement a preferred option, flight paths may undergo a final design refinement to ensure they deliver the best possible performance, in line with assessment outcomes. Airservices will communicate the outcomes, including reasons for decisions and, where flight paths are changing, expected timeframes for implementation. Timelines can vary depending on the complexity of the change.

A similar process is being followed for assessment of the new option for departures over land at night, noting this is an ‘initial option’ for a trial rather than a more developed preferred option.

We expect to share more details on Package 4 in our next update along with the Phase 5 Options Assessment Report.

Assessment reports now available

The following assessments have now been completed and are available for review.

Phase 4 Options Assessment Report: initial options for Package 2 actions focussing on departures from Archerfield Airport to facilitate the opportunity for greater use of SODPROPS.

Download report (771KB PDF) Provide feedback (by Monday 1 December 2025)

Non-jet Departure Trial Assessment Report: assessment of the trial of an early left turn for all non-jet departures over land from the legacy runway between 10pm and 6am. The trial found the procedure provides a noise benefit and the procedure will remain in place.

Download report (1.51MB PDF) Provide feedback (by Monday 1 December 2025)

The Phase 2 Options Assessment Report has been revised in response to community feedback download report (1.8MB PDF).

Noise Abatement Procedure (NAP) Reporting

NAP reporting, including the monthly and daily use of SODPROPS is available at our Aircraft in Your Neighbourhood website (please be sure to select a Brisbane location, and access this report through the Noise Abatement Procedure Reporting button on the left-hand menu).