Port Lincoln Airport - New Arrivals Approach to Runway 01

Statement of Need

In line with procedures at other major Australian regional airports, Airservices Australia will be introducing a new Required Navigation Performance (RNP) straight-in approach to Runway 01 at Port Lincoln Airport to increase safety for aircraft landing in poor weather when wind conditions at the airport favour landings from the south. RNP is a type of navigation that allows aircraft to operate along a precise flight path with a high level of accuracy. Currently:

  • the only straight-in approach is to Runway 19, and so can only be used when there is a southerly wind (as aircraft take off and land into the wind)

  • In poor weather and when Runway 01 must be used, aircraft circle around the airport until they are lined up to land from the south. Aircraft arriving from Adelaide in poor weather have reported instances of not being able to land via the circling approach and had to return passengers to Adelaide.

The main runway at Port Lincoln Airport is known as Runway 01 when used by aircraft travelling from south to north, and is known as Runway 19 when used by aircraft travelling from north to south. The new approach procedure will ensure that a straight-in instrument approach (predetermined landing approach) is available to both ends of the runway.

The new flight paths are generally expected to be used on existing Adelaide arrival routes as well as by the Royal Flying Doctor Service when weather conditions are poor or at night. There are currently between 9 to 11 passenger flights daily between Port Lincoln and Adelaide arriving between 8.30am to 8pm into Port Lincoln, with fewer flights on Saturdays. This path may also be used by other chartered flights. Runway is assumed to be an approximate 60:40 ratio between the two runway ends with 60% of arrivals to Runway 19 (arriving from the north) compared to 40% of arrivals from the south to Runway 01 based on historical wind data from Bureau of Meteorology. The arrivals into Port Lincoln for 2022 and 2023 are shown below. No additional flights are being introduced as part of the new approach, and it is not associated with flight training in the region.

Number of arrivals per day

Minimum

Maximum

Average

2022

3

22

13

2023

4

23

13

For further information, please see our factsheet. To search your address relative to the flight path, please click on the scalable map below.

Statement of Need

In line with procedures at other major Australian regional airports, Airservices Australia will be introducing a new Required Navigation Performance (RNP) straight-in approach to Runway 01 at Port Lincoln Airport to increase safety for aircraft landing in poor weather when wind conditions at the airport favour landings from the south. RNP is a type of navigation that allows aircraft to operate along a precise flight path with a high level of accuracy. Currently:

  • the only straight-in approach is to Runway 19, and so can only be used when there is a southerly wind (as aircraft take off and land into the wind)

  • In poor weather and when Runway 01 must be used, aircraft circle around the airport until they are lined up to land from the south. Aircraft arriving from Adelaide in poor weather have reported instances of not being able to land via the circling approach and had to return passengers to Adelaide.

The main runway at Port Lincoln Airport is known as Runway 01 when used by aircraft travelling from south to north, and is known as Runway 19 when used by aircraft travelling from north to south. The new approach procedure will ensure that a straight-in instrument approach (predetermined landing approach) is available to both ends of the runway.

The new flight paths are generally expected to be used on existing Adelaide arrival routes as well as by the Royal Flying Doctor Service when weather conditions are poor or at night. There are currently between 9 to 11 passenger flights daily between Port Lincoln and Adelaide arriving between 8.30am to 8pm into Port Lincoln, with fewer flights on Saturdays. This path may also be used by other chartered flights. Runway is assumed to be an approximate 60:40 ratio between the two runway ends with 60% of arrivals to Runway 19 (arriving from the north) compared to 40% of arrivals from the south to Runway 01 based on historical wind data from Bureau of Meteorology. The arrivals into Port Lincoln for 2022 and 2023 are shown below. No additional flights are being introduced as part of the new approach, and it is not associated with flight training in the region.

Number of arrivals per day

Minimum

Maximum

Average

2022

3

22

13

2023

4

23

13

For further information, please see our factsheet. To search your address relative to the flight path, please click on the scalable map below.

  • Community Engagement Report published

    The Community Engagement Report (CER) addressing feedback received and outlining next steps is available here. In response to feedback, we have updated this page to include additional information on frequency of flights (above and in the CER), as well as estimated noise levels (in our scalable map).

    Subject to flight validation activities, implementation of the new approach is expected to occur in mid to late 2024. Community feedback will be monitored following implementation, and a Post Implementation Review conducted a minimum of 12 months after introduction of the operation to review how the new flight path is operating and consider opportunity to improve outcomes.

  • News feed

    Consultation for the new Port Lincoln Airport RNP approach path to Runway 01 began on 13 February 2024 and has now concluded. A Community Engagement Report summarising the engagement activities undertaken, feedback received and our responses will be published by April 2024.

Page last updated: 01 May 2024, 08:02 AM