Bankstown Airport will introduce new restrictions on weekend helicopter operations as of next week.
Following community feedback on that tiresome issue of aircraft noise, Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown management have agreed to delay the start of helicopter circuit training operations on Sundays from 0700 to 0900.
The restriction will come into effect as of Monday November 1. Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown CEO Colin Grove says management negotiated with the airport’s helicopter training schools prior to announcing the change.
“We have worked with the operators by negotiating an agreement to accommodate both community concerns and the need for the helicopter training schools to make the most of available flying conditions,” Grove says.
“Under past practice it was not uncommon for helicopter training schools to commence operations from 0700 onwards on Sunday mornings and we recognise that this is simply not fair for the community.”
Grove stressed that no changes will be made to Saturday helicopter training operations, and that those members of the community who are concerned about aircraft noise issues need to understand that non-training helicopter operations will continue as usual on Sundays.
While this is only a minor alteration of previous operating conditions, here’s hoping that Sydney Metro Airports (the operators of both Bankstown and Camden Airports) nonetheless gave equal consideration to both sides of the argument. And that they, and others, continue to do so on the issue of aircraft noise, given that this issue particularly concerns GA airports that have a high number of training operations. With the majority of mainstream media coverage favouring those who decry aviation for the ‘noise pollution’ it creates for airport-surrounding communities, Lord knows a sympathetic ear wouldn’t hurt our industry.