Port Macquarie Airport Changes to Approach Procedures

This change has now been implemented. 

Panoramic view of Light House Beach in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia showing sand and clear blue water with beach goers

What is going to change?

Airservices will implement changes to approach procedures for aircraft arriving to Runway 03 at Port Macquarie Airport.

Residents in Black Creek, north of Herons Creek, Kew, Logans Crossing, Batar Creek, Dunbogan, Camden Head, Laurieton, West Haven and North Haven may notice some arriving aircraft flying at lower altitudes of 2,600 feet. Aircraft at these lower altitudes may increase noise levels by approximately 4 decibels, which may be noticeable to some community members. Noise levels from aircraft in this area will remain at below 60 decibels.

For more information on the changes please see our fact sheet.

Why are the changes necessary?

Since 2007, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has encouraged its members to implement approach procedures with vertical (straight up and down) guidance to improve safety for aircraft arriving at airports.

One way to do this is to make it possible for aircraft to use Baro-VNAV technology. BARO-VNAV stands for Barometric vertical navigation.

Baro-VNAV is a technology available on most large modern aircraft. It allows aircraft to land more smoothly, without using ground based navigation equipment. It also reduces the workload for pilots and decreases their reliance on visual assessments on approach, making landing safer. Baro-VNAV approaches reduce the frequency of an aircraft needing to either circle or complete a missed approach as they give pilots greater accuracy.

The introduction of Baro-VNAV requires changes to existing procedures for the main runway (Runway 03) at Port Macquarie Airport.

When will this change occur?

These changes are planned for 13 August 2020.


What is going to change?

Airservices will implement changes to approach procedures for aircraft arriving to Runway 03 at Port Macquarie Airport.

Residents in Black Creek, north of Herons Creek, Kew, Logans Crossing, Batar Creek, Dunbogan, Camden Head, Laurieton, West Haven and North Haven may notice some arriving aircraft flying at lower altitudes of 2,600 feet. Aircraft at these lower altitudes may increase noise levels by approximately 4 decibels, which may be noticeable to some community members. Noise levels from aircraft in this area will remain at below 60 decibels.

For more information on the changes please see our fact sheet.

Why are the changes necessary?

Since 2007, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has encouraged its members to implement approach procedures with vertical (straight up and down) guidance to improve safety for aircraft arriving at airports.

One way to do this is to make it possible for aircraft to use Baro-VNAV technology. BARO-VNAV stands for Barometric vertical navigation.

Baro-VNAV is a technology available on most large modern aircraft. It allows aircraft to land more smoothly, without using ground based navigation equipment. It also reduces the workload for pilots and decreases their reliance on visual assessments on approach, making landing safer. Baro-VNAV approaches reduce the frequency of an aircraft needing to either circle or complete a missed approach as they give pilots greater accuracy.

The introduction of Baro-VNAV requires changes to existing procedures for the main runway (Runway 03) at Port Macquarie Airport.

When will this change occur?

These changes are planned for 13 August 2020.