[Peetwo]

YSCB in stoush with RAAA -

The following is a link for the RAAA submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry into the airports: https://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_...rports.pdf

The following is an extract from that submission:

Aviation infrastructure being negatively impacted by commercial development It is clear that airport operators are highly motivated by the need to maximise returns from their real estate. They now hold the annual Australasian Airports Real Estate and Planning Conference which was commenced in 2004. We do not deny them the right to gain returns from non-aeronautical real estate ventures and it could even be positive if such returns were to be used to facilitate aeronautical capital investment but unfortunately this is rarely the case. The airports invariably rely on airline operators or, in the case of regional airports, government grants to provide such funding. While not begrudging the airports the right to earn extra profit it must not be done at the expense of airport infrastructure. Sometime in 2007 Sydney Airport proposed a Master Plan with extensive non-aeronautical development including a DFO. Given the scarcity of land at Sydney Airport the Transport Minister withheld approval and the plan was subsequently modified. Fortunately in this case there was Government oversight but the intentions and priorities of the airport were clear. In 2006 the operators of Bankstown Airport closed runway 18/36 and associated airport infrastructure. Two years later in 2008 they closed Hoxton Park aerodrome and turned it into an industrial park with some residential development. These actions removed crosswind runways near Bankstown and again showed that the owner’s priority was with real estate development.

Case study 8

Canberra Airport
For Canberra Airport, Airservices Australia has been obliged to put the following warning in its En Route Supplement Australia: “During strong westerly winds TURB may be experienced in touch down area LDG RWY 35” This warning of turbulence resulted from airline pilots complaining about a safety issue arising from severe turbulence caused by a hangar that was built too close to the runway. The hangar could have been placed further away from the runway if the land behind the hangar was not being used for non-aeronautical commercial development. Additionally, the ATSB undertook an investigation as a result of an Air Safety Incident Report relating to severe wind turbulence over the threshold of Runway 12 at Canberra due to buildings being too close to that threshold. The report was released in 2011 and noted s i g n i f i c a n t shortcomings and a commensurate reduction in safety as a result of poor consideration of the effect of non-aeronautical developments near Runway 12.

It must be noted that some airports achieve the balance between aeronautical and nonaeronautical development and Essendon Airport is a good example where significant non-aeronautical development has taken place without compromising aeronautical infrastructure. P2 - Note how the RAAA have cleverly stepped around the YMEN DFO prang by stating that they haven't compromised 'aeronautical infrastructure (ps will come back to this bollocks statement very soon)  

Unfortunately for the RAAA took umbrage to the above case study and responded to the PC inquiry with this... :

This submission is related to the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) submission dated September 2018 which alleges that Canberra Airport has experienced a reduction in safety due to the wind effects of development too close to Runway 12.

We would like to definitively go on record noting that every building, aviation and commercial, has been approved, both before and after construction, through proper channels which include aviation safety regulators, CASA and Airservices. These allegations are not supported by fact.

Further, the Qantas Hangar and the Majura Office Park buildings have been in position for more than ten years. Aviation users have continued operations since the buildings were complete. We have heard from pilots, who have used this airport for decades, both before and after the construction of these buildings, that from time to time, planes have experienced turbulence due to combinations of Canberra’s unique terrain, and varying wind directions and velocities. This happened sporadically before construction of these buildings, as well as after. There is no pattern of increased claims of turbulence.

Additionally, over the past 20 years, we have had rare turbulent events on 35 Arrival in North Easterly wind (no buildings near), including heavy landings. We log all of these events.

We take allegations of any potential threat to safety very seriously, and Canberra Airport’s risk analysis warns ‘pilots of the rare potential weather event,’ a practical, reasonable and diligent safety management tactic.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and please let us know if you have any additional queries.

 
Hmm...no comment, except to say "where's the popcorn??" -

MTF...P2