COMMUNITY INFORMATION BOOKLET

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Our vision 5

2 For those planning to move into the area 6

3 What do we do at Essendon Airport? 7

4 Aircraft movements 8

5 Fly Neighbourly program 8

6 WebTrak 12

7 Airport operations 13

Tower hours 13

Curfew restriction 13

Weight restrictions 13

8 Noise complaints and enquiries 14

9 Ground based noise 15

10 Historical aviation activity 16

Table 7.1 Historic aviation activity at Essendon Airport (calendar years) 16

Table 7.2 Essendon Airport in 2012 proportion of aircraft movements 16

11 Australian Noise Exposure Forecast 2033 (ANEF 2033) 17

12 Community Aviation Consultative Group 18

13 Airport development proposals 19

14 Frequently asked questions 19

15 Who can I contact? 20

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Essendon Airport remains a vital aviation resource for Melbourne and regional Victoria. It continues to provide excellent facilities to the aviation industry, with a special emphasis on Police and Emergency Services, flight support and the corporate aviation market. In addition, it offers the opportunity to create an integrated business environment, unlike anything else in Melbourne.

Essendon Airport is a strategically important parcel of land, providing a unique opportunity to reinforce its activity centre function by realising non-aviation development potential.

The site has potential for the creation of thousands of new employment opportunities, through the enhancement and expansion of the range of services and facilities presently located in the northwest of Melbourne.

Further information on these opportunities can be found in the Essendon Airport Master Plan which is available on the Essendon Airport Website (www.essendonairport.com.au).

Chris Cowan

1 | OUR VISION

Essendon Airport Pty Ltd’s vision for the airport is:

“To establish a commercially viable, safe and functional general

aviation facility which meets projected aviation requirements

whilst utilising the property’s strategic land holdings for high

quality commercial development”.

EAPL has established the following development objectives to achieve the vision:

• To improve and maintain safe, secure and efficient airport operations;

• To add value to the airport by realising development opportunities;

• To increase market awareness of development opportunities at the airport;

• To improve the integration of the airport with its surrounds; and

• To consolidate airport operations and aviation requirements to ensure efficient and sustainable land use.

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2 | FOR THOSE PLANNING TO MOVE INTO THE AREA

With residential and commercial communities located

immediately adjacent to our airport boundary, the protection

of Airspace is a major focus. EAPL is working with the Federal,

State and Local Governments to support improvements in

planning outcomes that will improve the safety and viability

of operations in the Melbourne region.

EAPL has recently worked with the Moonee Valley City Council to finalise a planning scheme amendment relating to building height restrictions in areas under the runway approach and departure paths.

An Airport Environs Overlay has not been prepared for Essendon Airport.

For those considering a move into the area we recommend the following:

• Refer to Chapter 8 of the EAPL Master Plan (Aircraft Noise and Airspace Management) (http://www.essendonairport.com.au/planning/masterplan);

• Speak to people already living in the area;

• Spend time in the location to gain an understanding of aircraft activity and noise level. Try to cover both day and night periods;

• Consider using Airservices Australia’s online WebTrak tool which will allow you to investigate actual flight movements over the location that you may be considering (see page 12 for further details);

• Review the current Noise Exposure Forecast plan (on page 17). This shows the forecast noise levels for residential zones close to the airport and can be obtained on our website;

• You should also refer your building advisors to the Airspace Charts of page 79 – 87 of the MP.

If you have further questions after following the above process you can get further advice from Essendon Airport via the enquiry link on our website (see page 20 for details).

3 | WHAT DO WE DO AT ESSENDON AIRPORT?

Essendon Airport provides facilities and services for International

and Domestic corporate aircraft, aircraft maintenance, airfreight,

aircraft charter, regional activation services and emergency air

service providers. Combined, these operators undertake more

than 50,000 annual aircraft movements.

The maps shown on page 10 and 11 show the primary flight paths provided by Airservices for arriving and departing aircraft and helicopters at Essendon Airport. It is important to note that aircraft may diverge from these flight paths on some occasions.

The flight paths servicing Melbourne Airport are not shown on these maps as these are outside the Essendon Airport prescribed airspace and generally involve the operation of aircraft at a higher altitude. These aircraft may also contribute to noise levels experienced by the community from time to time.

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4 | AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS

The Master Plan contains the following forecasts for the period 2013 to 2033:

• Single Propeller Aircraft Movements are likely to continue to decline by 2% to 3% per annum;

• Twin Propeller Aircraft Movements are likely to continue to decline by 2% per annum;

• Twin Turboprop Movements are likely to increase by 1% per annum;

• Jet Movements are likely to increase by 2% to 3% per annum; and

• Rotary Wing Movements (helicopters) are likely to increase by 2% per annum.

In broad terms, it is envisaged that aircraft movement declines in some airframe types (namely single propeller and twin propeller) will largely be offset by increases in others (namely turboprop, jet and rotary wing aircraft).

It is therefore considered that whilst there has been a decline in flight activity during this decade, this will now be stabilised and will remain consistent in the future.

More particularly, we therefore anticipate that total average movements over the next 20 years will be within the range of 53,000 to 57,000 movements per annum.

5 | FLY NEIGHBOURLY PROGRAM

Aircraft noise will always arise as part of an airport’s operation,

and while modern aircraft are becoming quieter, considerable

ongoing attention is required to manage the noise associated

with an airport.

Initiatives undertaken by EAPL in conjunction with the Community Aviation Consultative Group (CACG) include the implementation of the first Fly Neighbourly Agreement in Australia.

While aircraft flight paths and responses to noise created by aviation movements are primarily the responsibility of Airservices Australia, EAPL takes a proactive approach to noise impacts on the community. Currently 22 operators have signed the Fly Neighbourly Agreement.

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Standard flight tracks for fixed wing arrivals

Standard flight tracks for fixed wing departures

Standard flight tracks for helicopter arrivals

Standard flight tracks for helicopter departures

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6 | WEBTRAK

Airservices provides a tool called WebTrak on its website

which allows you to access flight activity of most aircraft over

metropolitan areas. Using a map to display surrounding

suburbs within 55km of a selected airport, WebTrak allows

you to view information about arriving and departing aircraft,

ranging from 40 minutes to three months ago. Limited

emergency operations are not always shown on WebTrak.

You can also:

• Locate your street address to have your home appear on the map;

• See noise levels of individual aircraft;

• View information about the aircraft including aircraft type, height, origin and destination;

• Display an aircraft’s flight path and point of closest approach to your home;

• Zoom in and out down to street level.

How does it work?

WebTrak uses information from air traffic control secondary surveillance radars to monitor aircraft:

• Within 55km of the airport;

• Up to a height of 30,000ft above mean sea level (AMSL).

Aircraft noise data is downloaded daily from noise monitors strategically located around the communities close to the airport.

Airservices operates a noise monitor in Essendon. Data from this monitor can be downloaded daily from WebTrak. Source Air Services http://webtrak.bksv.com/mel

Fokker 70 carrying up to 70 passengers to the mines

7 | AIRPORT OPERATIONS

Tower hours

The Essendon Airport Control Tower is active Monday to Friday from 6.00am to 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am to 10pm. Outside of these hours control service is managed by Airservices at Melbourne Airport.

Curfew restriction

The Air Navigation (Essendon Airport) Regulations 2001 (Cth) prescribe a curfew period which applies to aircraft from 11pm until 6am the following day. Movements that are permitted during curfew periods include:

• Propeller driven aircraft and helicopters subject to specified maximum take-off weights and or maximum noise levels;

• Where the aircraft is involved in an emergency; or

• Where the aircraft is involved in a Police Air Wing operation; or

• A dispensation is granted by the Secretary under regulation 15 that authorises the take-off or landing, and the take-off or landing is in accordance with the dispensation.

Airservices includes data on curfew movements in its quarterly aircraft noise information reports. A recent report shows the following:

• On average, there are around six movements per night during curfew hours;

• The records show the operations are spread across both runways.

Weight restrictions

The Air Navigation (Essendon Airport) Regulations 2001 (Cth) does not permit aircraft over a maximum take-off weight of 45,000kgs to operate at Essendon Airport at any time.

Domestic passenger jets are well in excess of 45,000kgs.

An example of one of the largest aircraft able to operate from Essendon Airport is shown below.

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8 | NOISE COMPLAINTS AND ENQUIRIES

All aircraft noise complaints in the first instance should be

lodged with Airservices Australia. To lodge a complaint or

make an enquiry about aircraft operations, you can use the

following options:

Enquiry

Go to WebTrak (www.airservicesaustralia.com/aircraftnoise/webtrak/) to see the flight path details of the aircraft of concern.

Complaint

Use the Airservices online form: (https://complaints.bksv.com/asa)

Complaint by email

ncis@airservicesaustralia.com

Complaint by telephone

1800 802 584 (free call)

If you are not satisfied with the service received you can lodge your complaint with the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman online: www.ano.gov.au or write to:

Mail

Aircraft Noise Ombudsman GPO Box 1985 Canberra, ACT 2601

9 | GROUND BASED NOISE

The Airports (Environmental Protection) Regulations 1997

do not apply to noise generated by aircraft in flight, when

landing, taking off or taxiing at the airport. However, noise

emissions emitted from ground-based activities are subject

to the Regulations.

Ground based noise sources include engine maintenance tests and pre-flight system checks of aircraft, maintenance activities, vehicle traffic and construction activities.

Engine maintenance tests are restricted at Essendon Airport to the following hours:

• 7.00 am – 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday

• 10.00 am – 6.00 pm, Saturday and Sunday

Most complaints about aircraft ground based noise are about pre-flight system checks (run-ups) which are a mandatory safety requirement prior to flight for non-jet engine aircraft types. Few run-ups exceed five minutes in duration, but run-ups do occur when the ambient background noise is at lower levels.

In response to noise complaints, generally regarding engine maintenance, Essendon Airport amended its Aircraft Engine Maintenance Ground Running procedure in 2012. The revised procedure incorporates a new site for the mobile testing vehicle, which is closer to noise barriers and further away from residential areas surrounding the airport.

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10 | HISTORICAL AVIATION ACTIVITY

Table 7.1 Historic aviation activity at Essendon Airport (calendar years)

YearAnnual Aircraft Movement

2002 68,418

2003 64,240

2004 59,826

2005 58,708

2006 59,244

2007 53,802

2008 54,739

2009 58,659

2010 54,994

2011 54,162

2012 53,779

2013 52,724

Source: Air Services Australia annual report and EAPL data

Table 7.2 Essendon Airport in 2012 proportion of aircraft movements

Single Propeller 23.2%

Twin Propeller 21.1%

Twin Turboprop 18.0%

Jets 5.4%

Rotary Wing 32.3%

11 | AUSTRALIAN NOISE EXPOSURE FORECAST 2033 (ANEF 2033)

The ANEF is based on International standards and has been endorsed by Airservices Australia.

It shows the noise levels experienced in the areas surrounding Essendon Airport and represents the noise exposure for an average day, based on the forecast movements for 2033.

It is important to note that aircraft noise around Essendon Airport will not necessarily be restricted to the perimeter shown on this chart (20 ANEF contour) and may vary due to factors such as weather and variations in aircraft flight tracks from time to time.

Noise contours 20, 25 and 30 represent Building Site Acceptability Standards in accordance with Australian Standards AS 2021-2000.

As the numbers increase from 20 – 30 the noise levels increase correspondingly.

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12 | COMMUNITY AVIATION CONSULTATIVE GROUP

In January 2010 EAPL established a Community Aviation

Consultative Group (CACG). The CACG replaced the Essendon

Airport Noise Management Working Group.

The CACG is the primary community consultative forum for noise issues.

Attendees at the CACG meetings include:

• Local Federal Member of Parliament;

• Local State Member of Parliament;

• MVCC Councillor;

• 2 community representatives nominated by 2 local federal members of Parliament;

• Representatives from Airservices Australia and Department of Regional Infrastructure and Development are invited guests at each meeting. The Aircraft Noise Ombudsmen has also attended meetings of the CACG.

Initiatives undertaken by EAPL in conjunction with the CACG include:

• Implementation of the first Fly Neighbourly Agreement in Australia;

• Local fly neighbourly procedures to encourage helicopter operations at the northern end of runway 17/35 to use the green belt area;

• An EAPL staff member spending the night at the home of a local resident to gain a better understanding of the noise issues that were impacting on this particular person;

• Arrangements were made for another resident to meet the CEO and Chief Pilot of a local airfreight company to discuss their concerns and gain a better understanding of this particular business;

• A new engine test site which uses the existing formation of the adjacent freeway overpass to absorb noise was trialled and is now a confirmed location for engine test runs.

This booklet has been developed following recommendations from the CACG.

13 | AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

Refer Chapter 9 of the Essendon Airport Master Plan (www.essendonairport.com.au).

14 | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long is the airport lease?

50 Years commencing 1 July 1998 with an option for a further term of 49 years (99 years ending 30 June 2098).

Who approves the Master Plan?

The Master Plan is approved by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Who controls aircraft movements?

Aircraft movements in and out of Essendon Airport are controlled by Airservices Australia.

Who is responsible for ground running noise?

Essendon Airport’s Operations team is responsible for managing ground running noise.

Who is responsible for aircraft noise in flight?

Airservices Australia are responsible (see page 14).

Who is responsible for aircraft routes and flight paths?

Airservices Australia.

Why don’t all flights fly neighbourly?

Fly neighbourly agreements are voluntary. Operators are not always able to comply with FNA due to the nature of their operations.

Why don’t aircraft follow the flight paths?

Variations to flight paths may be influenced by weather conditions and directions by Air Traffic Control.

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15 | WHO CAN I CONTACT?

Action Company Contact Details

Aircraft Noise Complaints Airservices 1800 802 584 (freecall)

To access flight activity of aircraft over metropolitan areas

Airservices - WebTrak http://webtrak.bksv.com/mel

Aviation Safety MattersCivil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

133 757 www.casa.gov.au

Independent administrative reviews of Airservices aircraft noise-related activities

Aircraft Noise Ombudsman

www.ano.gov.au

Airport Building ActivitiesA register of approved activities at Essendon Airport can be found on the Essendon Airport website

Essendon Airport03 9948 9300enquiries@essport.com.auwww.essendonairport.com.au

Information on the noise and airspace impacts on the community

Essendon Airport

Refer Essendon Airport Master Plan generally in particular to Chapter 4–8www.essendonairport.com.au

Airport Development Proposals Essendon AirportRefer to Chapter 9 of the Essendon Airport Master Plan www.essendonairport.com.au

Who can I contact if I want to speak to a community representative of the Community Aviation Consultative Group (CACG)

Essendon Airport enquiries@essport.com.au

Emails to Essendon Airport enquiries - we will endeavour to contact you directly during the next business day.

Photo: Gordon ReidPhoto: Wayne Riggs

Telephone 03 9948 9300

essendonairport.com.au