Airservices Australia is inviting the community to have its say on preferred airspace and flightpath design changes around Ballina Byron Gateway Airport aimed at safely accommodating the continued growth of air traffic in the region.
Ballina’s enhanced air traffic services will take effect in 2025, following a 2022 airspace review by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which included extensive industry feedback.
The region will soon transition from the current uncontrolled airspace – where pilots self-separate using information provided by Airservices’ air traffic control – to controlled airspace.
This will see all aircraft movements directed by Airservices’ highly skilled air traffic controllers via an approach control and aerodrome control service.
Following extensive community and industry feedback, Airservices’ preferred Ballina airspace and flightpath design options can now be viewed . Residents are encouraged to provide feedback until Sunday, 22 December 2024, with the flightpaths set to be finalised for implementation in 2025.
In addition, Airservices will seek further feedback at seven community engagement sessions (including two online options), listed , from Tuesday, 19 November until Thursday, 28 November.
This Ballina initiative is in accordance with Airservices’ commitment to fostering sustainable aviation growth while ensuring our airspace design enables the safe, efficient and orderly flow of air traffic.
It’s also aligned with Airservices’ airspace modernisation program, which is enhancing the safety and efficiency of Australia’s airspace at major regional airports and improving accessibility to these locations for the aviation industry.
As part of this change, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (pictured) will have new published flightpaths for arrivals and departures called Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs). These are like roads in the sky which aircraft follow, resulting in a more efficient flow of traffic to and from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.
Once the changes are made, communities may notice a change in aircraft operations around Ballina, Alstonville and surrounding areas.
Airservices Australia Head of Community Engagement Donna Marshall said the organisation was committed to collaborating with the community on these upcoming changes to help shape designs.
“Where possible, we have designed flightpaths to mirror current aircraft movements. We have also sought to minimise the impact of aircraft operations on communities, where safe and practicable,” Ms Marshall said.
“We have genuinely considered all community perspectives, have made several changes to the preliminary design based on this feedback, and we look forward to further discussing these preferred design options.
“Airservices never compromises on safety, which is our No.1 remit no matter the location across Australia. We remain committed to supporting the safe growth of regional aviation and ease of access at major regional airports such as Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.”
