Shellharbour Airport Changes to Approach Procedures

Consultation has concluded

Aerial view of the city of Shellharbour, coastline and beaches

What is going to change?

Airservices is modernising the approaches used for aircraft arriving to Runway 16/34 at Shellharbour Airport from 15 July 2021, as part of a national safety improvement program.

The existing approach to RWY 16 will be moved approximately 4 km west of its current location and overlaid with a Baro-VNAV approach.

Some residents may experience aircraft operating closer to them and some may experience an increase in aircraft noise as a result of the new approach.

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 modern aircraft. Baro-VNAV increases the likelihood of a stabilised approach by providing vertical guidance to the pilot during their descent to the runway without relying on ground based navigation equipment. It also reduces the workload for pilots and decreases their reliance on visual assessments, making landing safer.

When will this change occur?

The improved approaches to RWY 16 will be implemented from 15 July 2021.

The improved approaches to RWY 34 will be implemented later in 2022, subject to CASA flight validation.

What is going to change?

Airservices is modernising the approaches used for aircraft arriving to Runway 16/34 at Shellharbour Airport from 15 July 2021, as part of a national safety improvement program.

The existing approach to RWY 16 will be moved approximately 4 km west of its current location and overlaid with a Baro-VNAV approach.

Some residents may experience aircraft operating closer to them and some may experience an increase in aircraft noise as a result of the new approach.

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 modern aircraft. Baro-VNAV increases the likelihood of a stabilised approach by providing vertical guidance to the pilot during their descent to the runway without relying on ground based navigation equipment. It also reduces the workload for pilots and decreases their reliance on visual assessments, making landing safer.

When will this change occur?

The improved approaches to RWY 16 will be implemented from 15 July 2021.

The improved approaches to RWY 34 will be implemented later in 2022, subject to CASA flight validation.

Consultation has concluded