FAQs

The single runway at WSI will be capable of handling up to 10 million annual passengers and around 81,000 air traffic movements by 2033 including freight operations. It is expected that by 2033 there will be a total of 222 flights per day (88 per cent passenger, 12 per cent freight).

Detailed design involves further refining the flight paths through simulation testing and ongoing safety assessments ahead of implementation. Changes to the flight paths’ location or planned operation will only be made if a safety issue is identified.

Throughout detailed design we will be actively engaging with industry stakeholders and communities across Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains to ensure awareness of the location of the flights paths, how they will operate, and what communities can expect from these operations.

Subject to approval by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the flight paths will be implemented in mid-2026 ahead of the airport’s opening in 2026.

In RRO mode, aircraft take off and land from the same direction. At WSI, aircraft take off to the south-west, while they land from the south-west. RRO at WSI can only be used between 11pm and 5.30am and is subject to various factors including suitable air traffic volumes and weather conditions.

Some flight paths and operating procedures servicing other airports in the Sydney region need to be altered to facilitate WSI flight paths into this already busy and complex airspace. This includes changes to flight paths servicing Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) and Bankstown airports, and new approach procedures into Camden Airport. The Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) Base Richmond will also require changes to an arrival path and its approach procedures.

For more information, refer to Chapter 8 and 21 of the EIS.

The EIS found that the emissions to air derived from the operation of aircraft would have a negligible to low impact on water quality in rainwater tanks in the community. Potential impacts on these water supplies would be so low they would not be measurable. An assessment of air and water quality impacts is included in Chapter 12 of the EIS and Technical Paper 2.

Emergency services operations are usually conducted at short notice and can occur at any time of the day or night.

Emergency services operations take priority over other aircraft.

Aircraft in the vicinity may also be asked to hold their current position by circling in the air to allow the emergency services aircraft to quickly land or depart before them.

Fuel jettisoning (also known as fuel dumping) is only required in extremely rare circumstances in the event of an emergency and is only possible in certain types of aircraft.

In the event that fuel jettisoning is required, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices enforce strict procedures on when and where it can occur.

Jettisoned fuel vaporises rapidly and disperses widely. Fuel jettisoning generally results in no impacts at ground level.

Every major airport has NAPs, which are procedures designed to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on the community.

Communities near airports may be sensitive to operations at different times of the day and night. NAPs are implemented by Air Traffic Control (ATC), airports or airport owners. They contain instructions for pilots and ATC for the runways and flight paths, as well as procedures that should be followed to minimise the impacts of aircraft overflight noise on the community.

Noise insultation and property acquisition is outside of Airservices’ remit and is managed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and The Arts. Please contact the Department at: wsiflightpaths@infrastructure.gov.au

There will be several opportunities to provide feedback during the detailed design phase on the proposed Noise Abatement Procedures and noise monitoring program.

This will include targeted community engagement sessions and stakeholder briefings. Community consultation will be held across Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains.

Feedback is not being sought on the new flight paths as these have already been authorised by government, but we will be seeking feedback to ensure awareness of these flight paths and to answer any questions about their operation.

You can sign up to receive email notification about the project on Engage Airservices website at: engage.airservicesaustralia.com/WSI or email us at: communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com

Airservices’ dedicated project site has been established on the Engage Airservices website as a hub for community members to stay informed about project updates. Please visit: engage.airservicesaustralia.com/WSI

Use the Aircraft Overflight Noise Tool to view the WSI flight paths and how they are likely to affect specific addresses or places of interest.

Access the Aircraft Overflight Noise Tool at: wsiflightpaths.aerlabs.com

The actual flight paths, aircraft movements, noise contours are indicative based on the most likely operations, and aircraft noise over specific addresses may be different to that shown in the tool due to variations in aircraft performance and the operational conditions at any given time.

Register with your email address via the Engage Airservices website at: engage.airservicesaustralia.com/WSI to receive notifications on WSI project and future engagement campaigns.

Yes, we recommend subscribing to the project mailing list to receive updates and information on community engagement sessions.

Community members requiring translation services can contact the free Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS) on 131 450 and ask TIS to call Airservices on 1300 301 120.