FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT AT TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT?

The Townsville Airport 2016-2021 Master Plan can be viewed here.

WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT AIRCRAFT NOISE CONCERNS?

Townsville Airport is a Joint User facility. Noise management on airport is controlled by aircraft noise abatement procedures and routine aircraft noise monitoring undertaken by the Airport and the Department of Defence. RAAF Base Townsville manages the toll free noise enquiry hotline for any community complaints. Please call the Aircraft Noise Enquiries hotline on 1800 802 584 to lodge any noise complaints.

HOW ARE FLIGHT PATHS CHOSEN?

Ideally, aircraft fly by the most direct route and at the optimum altitude for reasons of economy and efficiency of flight operations. However, it is not always possible for aircraft to fly optimum routes because of noise and safety considerations and the competing demands of other airspace users.

Some of the factors that influence flight paths are:

• Runway orientation
• The need to separate arriving and departing aircraft
• The need to provide an appropriate safety buffer around aircraft following the same path or on intersecting paths
• The need to integrate the flight paths for each airport in the region
• Aircraft performance limitations, e.g. rate of turn, climb and descent rates
• Avoidance of hills or other obstructions
• Minimisation of noise impact where possible
• Weather conditions
• Avoidance of restricted airspace, (usually for security or safety reasons)
• Efficient use of airspace.

WHAT ARE FLIGHT PATHS AND FLIGHT ZONES?

While flight paths are often depicted as single lines on a map, it is not possible for all aircraft following a flight path to fly precisely along the same line. In practice, flight paths tend to be corridors that can be several kilometres wide.

Flight paths show where the aircraft fly most of the time, while flight zones describe in more general terms the airspace that may be used by aircraft operating to and from the airport. Flight zones include all the flight paths and adjacent airspace which may be used by aircraft for safety and other operational reasons. Aircraft will be seen and heard anywhere in the flight zone around an airport.

Aircraft operating at low altitudes creating the most noise are generally found within a radius of about 10 nautical miles (19km) from the aerodrome. For example, an aircraft preparing to land would be at an altitude of about 3000 feet (approximately 900 m) at 10 nautical miles from the runway threshold. Departing aircraft are usually higher than arriving aircraft at equal distances from the aerodrome. Aircraft will, of course, also be seen and heard outside this 10-nautical mile radius.

WHAT IS TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT’S COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY?

Townsville Airport operates under the Airports Act 1996 and Airports (Environmental Protection) Regulations 1997 (administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development and Local Government).

Click here to view Townsville Airport’s Environment Vision and Policy or to download a copy of the Airport Environment Strategy (AES).

HOW DO I GET A JOB AT TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT?

Townsville Airport, through our parent company Queensland Airports Limited (QAL), is always looking for like-minded thinkers that have a passion for innovation and want to become part of a group of regional aviation specialists.

Click here to see current employment opportunities at Townsville Airport or within the QAL Group.

DOES TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT OFFER FREE WIFI?

Yes. Townsville Airport offers fast, free WiFi to its passengers and visitors.