I WRITE on behalf of the Save Swan Hill Serenity Action Group to clarify some potentially misleading information in the article “We’re Plane Upset” published in The Guardian on April 20.
The impact of flight training activity, particularly “circuit training” by aircraft visiting from flight training operators, is not solely related to night time operations.
The night time experiences outlined by Lucy and Wayne Tuohey just scratch the surface of what is to come if Swan Hill Rural City Council, as owner/operator of Swan Hill and Robinvale aerodromes, does not act to prevent visiting aircraft from conducting circuit training activity at any time – day and night.
A 10pm curfew alone is totally inadequate.
Flight training activity around Swan Hill aerodrome currently comes from visiting aircraft from flight training schools based at Mildura, which is at near capacity for these operations.
Some activity also comes from Ballarat when weather conditions prevent operations there.
Remember too, it was Swan Hill Rural City Council that attempted to facilitate the establishment of a large-scale flight training base at Swan Hill aerodrome by the foreign owned International Aviation Academy, currently based at Mildura.
The article quoted Daryl Allan, president of the Mid Murray Flying Club, who stated that nothing could be done about aircraft noise other than a night time curfew and/or introduction of a right-hand circuit direction.
Mr Allan is correct; however, these measures do not mitigate the noise impact of daytime circuit training activity.
Council has the option to request Airservices Australia to amend the En Route Supplement Australia to make Swan Hill and Robinvale aerodromes unavailable for circuit training by visiting aircraft at any time.
This option impacts flight training activities only – all other general aviation operations, including emergency services, are not affected, and renders a night time curfew unnecessary.
The article also quoted Airservices Australia, the agency responsible for dealing with aircraft noise complaints.
For the spokesperson to say that only six complaints have been received from Swan Hill residents belittles the pending larger problem.
Most people new to aircraft noise are unaware that Airservices is the complaint authority.
Further, the spokesperson stated: “Airservices will advise residents that our input in the area is limited.”
This is a gross understatement – Airservices is a toothless tiger when it comes to noise emanating from flight training activity.
The impact on residents’ amenity, wellbeing and mental health of industrial scale, repetitive, low altitude flight training activity, often involving multiple aircraft at one time, is well known – you only have to look at aerodromes like Mildura, Parafield (SA), Moorabbin, Ballarat, Jandakot (WA), Port Macquarie (NSW) and many others.
All of these airports are host to large flight training businesses training 200 or more cadet pilots per year – day and night.
We look forward to council’s planned extensive report and subsequent community consultation.
Dr Jacquie Kelly
Save Swan Hill Serenity Action Group
