Whyalla Airport Changes to Approach Procedures

This change has now been implemented

Panoramic image of the steelworks and beach at Whyalla, South Australia.

What is going to change?

Airservices will implement changes to approach procedures for aircraft arriving to Runway 17/35 at Whyalla Airport.

Residents on the eastern side of Whyalla Jenkins and western side of Whyalla Stuart may notice a change to the pattern of how aircraft arrive at the airport.

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 complete a missed approach as they give pilots greater accuracy.

When will this change occur?

These changes are planned for late May 2020.

What is going to change?

Airservices will implement changes to approach procedures for aircraft arriving to Runway 17/35 at Whyalla Airport.

Residents on the eastern side of Whyalla Jenkins and western side of Whyalla Stuart may notice a change to the pattern of how aircraft arrive at the airport.

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 complete a missed approach as they give pilots greater accuracy.

When will this change occur?

These changes are planned for late May 2020.

This change has now been implemented