New Flight Route - Auckland to Melbourne

Airservices is proposing changes for flights from Auckland to Melbourne by creating a more efficient flight route that reduces aircraft track miles, fuel burn and emissions.

A flight route is a high-altitude corridor that uses a series of waypoints to direct aircraft between the various arrival and departure flight paths of airports. Waypoints are specified geographical locations where an aircraft will intercept the next segment of the flight route, and each waypoint is a five-letter capitalised word that is pronounceable and distinct to pilots and air traffic controllers.

The proposed new route tracks from waypoint GEMAC direct to waypoint LIZZI, instead of the current tracking that includes a turn at waypoint BULLA. Flights using this route join with the existing arrival flight paths into Melbourne Airport at waypoint LIZZI.

Aircraft will be at an altitude of approximately 34,900 feet (10.6 kilometres) when they cross the coastline at Lakes Entrance and descend to 17,600 feet (5.3 kilometres) by Marysville. At these high flight altitudes, aircraft noise events at ground level are expected to be less than 50 decibels, which is similar to ordinary conversation or refrigerator hum. This may be noticeable in the alpine region and low ambient rural areas.

Prior to COVID-19 travel restrictions there was an average of 10 flights per day, and up to 14 flights on a typical busy day, operating from Auckland to Melbourne. While the GEMAC to LIZZI route is primarily used by flights from Auckland, there may be occasional use (estimated to be less than five per month) by flights from other destinations, such as the Pacific Islands or USA, due to weather or other operational factors.

The proposed change also includes a new holding pattern at waypoint BUNBA, near Licola. The holding pattern would be used by aircraft at an altitude of 25,000 feet (7.6 kilometres) and is expected to be used a few times a week for air traffic management purposes. At this altitude, aircraft noise events at ground level are likely to be around 40 decibels, which is similar to noise from moderate rainfall.

The new direct route between waypoint GEMAC and waypoint LIZZI is expected to be implemented 1 December 2022.

The Flight Path Design Principles summary report describes how the Airservices Flight Path Design Principles have been applied to the proposed direct route between waypoints GEMAC and LIZZI.

Note: this proposed change is designed to support the current flight operations from Auckland into Melbourne. The new route is not associated with, and does not affect, the concept airspace design being presented by Melbourne Airport for its proposed Third Runway Project that is being consulted on until 16 May 2022 (see www.melbourneairport.com.au/runway for more information).