Sunshine Coast Airport New Runway PIR recommendations implementation

Thank you to all community members who have already provided feedback on the actions from the Sunshine Coast Post Implementation Review (PIR) recommendations that we are currently engaging on. We have had some great feedback and some requests for further clarification. The information below is provided in response to these requests.

Community members are invited to update or resubmit their feedback (via email to communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com) should this information change anything submitted earlier.

Recommendation 3, Action 2: Investigate increased sharing between Runway 13 short approach (RNP-AR) and long approach

Departure path data and cumulative impact consideration

A member of the community has rightly identified that the location subject to short approach (RNP-AR) arrivals to the northern runway end is also subject to departure operations using this runway end and has requested further data on departing aircraft movements to better understand the number of flights over this area.

The map below shows the departure path in purple and the arrivals paths in orange.

Based on a full year of data, an average of 4.2 aircraft per day use this departure path (averaged over the full year). The information released in relation to this action identified an average 8.6 aircraft per day use the short approach and 1.7 aircraft per day use the long approach. Cumulatively, this means on average over a year, 12.8 aircraft track over communities subject to the short approach.

An average of 1.6 departing aircraft use this departure path during the suggested NAP hours of 6am to 12pm. As the departure path is not being considered for relocation as part of this action, communities subject to the short approach operations would still experience these departure operations during the NAP period.

The chart below shows the number of departures from the northern runway end (Runway 31) over a twelve-month period, broken into hourly increments. This chart provides the same information as illustrated in Figure 2 of the information sheet released to support community consideration of this action. The hours of the day are shown along the bottom axis and the number of departing aircraft that use this departure path that hour, totalled across the full year, is reflected in the bars. For example, 134 aircraft used this departure path between 12noon and 1pm between September 2024 and September 2025.

Data correction

We have been alerted to an error in Table 2 of the original information sheet in relation to this arrival path action. The estimated noise levels for the Tinbeerwah area were incorrectly transcribed (1-2 decibels difference) and the information sheet has now been updated with the correct estimation of noise level.

We apologise for any confusion caused.

Historical flight path usage data

We were asked for information on the number of movements on each flight path servicing Sunshine Coast Airport.

In response, we have prepared a new document. The Historical flight path usage data information sheet illustrates Sunshine Coast Airport arrival and departure flight paths and the number of aircraft using each over a twelve-month period.

Clarity of information materials

We received feedback from the community noting some of our information sheets were not as clear as they could be in relation to the more complex aviation terms. We have reviewed these and have attempted to simplify the language as much as possible. These can now be viewed in the Documents section on this page.

Our office will be closed over Christmas, from Monday 22 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026. We will be happy to answer any further questions in the new year. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday period.

Due to current power outages across the Sunshine Coast and forecast further severe weather for late this afternoon, we will reschedule the planned online engagement session which was due to be held at 5pm on Thursday 27 November.

The online engagement session is now rescheduled to Thursday 4 December 2025, at 5pm to 6.30pm.

If you would like to attend the rescheduled session, please email communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com or register here.

We are pleased to release information in response to Recommendations 1, 3 and 5 of the Sunshine Coast Airport new runway Post Implementation Review (PIR).

We have also produced an Introduction to aviation document, which provides an explanation of key aviation concepts and terms which may assist interested community members to better engage with us on these recommendations.

Information in relation to each recommendation and its specific actions can be accessed via the links below:

Recommendation 1: improve information sharing with the community

• Aviation roles and responsibilities
• Aircraft noise and operational data reporting

Recommendation 3: investigate feasible NAP improvements

• Noise Abatement Procedure improvements overview
• Sunshine Coast Airport NAPs
• Sharing of aircraft movements between Runway 13 RNP-AR short approach and long approach
• Improve adherence to the TAPET SID
• Preferred Runway Use NAP

Recommendation 5: investigate the potential for a noise monitoring program, either permanent or temporary, to provide information on aircraft noise levels to Sunshine Coast communities

• Noise monitoring program

Online surveys have been created to collect feedback on each action and can be accessed from the relevant information sheet. Alternatively, you can access them directly below

• Improved reporting
• Sharing between Runway 13 RNP-AR short approach and long approach
• Improved adherence to the TAPET SID
• Preferred runways use NAP
• Option to allow visual tracking to Runway 31
• Locations for noise monitoring terminals

Click here to ask a question and we will respond as soon as possible.

Feedback on these actions is open until 11 January 2026.

A reminder that registrations for our online engagement sessions are open. We look forward to seeing you at a session and to receiving your feedback.

• Wednesday 26 November 2025, at 11am - 12.30pm (local time) - Click here to register
• Thursday 4 December 2025, at 5pm - 6.30pm (local time) - Click here to register

We are pleased to announce details of our upcoming online engagement sessions to discuss the implementation of Package 1 actions from the Sunshine Coast Airport Post Implementation Review (PIR).

Package 1 will address the actions under the following recommendations:

• Recommendation 1: Improve information sharing with the community
• Recommendation 3: Investigate feasible NAP improvements
• Recommendation 5: Investigate the potential for a noise monitoring program, either permanent or temporary, to provide information on aircraft noise levels to Sunshine Coast communities

The sessions will include an Airservices presentation outlining how we are addressing each action, with an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation.

Registrations are required for the sessions. Additional sessions may be scheduled if demand requires. We will aim to keep attendance numbers at a level that should ensure all questions can be asked and answered.

Online webinars will be held on:

Wednesday 26 November 2025, at 11am - 12.30pm (local time) - Click here to register

Thursday 4 December 2025, at 5pm - 6.30pm (local time) - Click here to register

If you or other members of your community are not confident or have difficulty in accessing online meetings, please email us at communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com or write to us at Community Engagement, Locked Bag 747, Eagle Farm QLD 4009 and we will contact you to discuss alternative options.

We are pleased to announce that we will be commencing engagement with the community on the actions relating to recommendations 1, 3 and 5 of the Sunshine Coast Airport New Runway Post Implementation Review on 17 November 2025. This will include the release of fact sheets relating to each recommendation with interactive online maps where relevant and dates for online webinar information sessions.

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