The Western Australian government has released an aviation strategy that considers a second general aviation airport for Perth and discusses options to combat the impact and expected rise in fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) movements at Perth International.
According to the strategy paper, there is a need to investigate an alternative airport to Jandakot.
"Jandakot is heavily utilised," the paper states. "While there has been a decline in aviation activity levels at Jandakot due to the GFC, Jandakot remains one of the busiest airports in Australia.
"The Department of Planning and DoT are undertaking a preliminary investigation to identify a site suitable for the development of a second metropolitan general aviation airport."
With the mining boom impacting WA more than any other state, there has been a FIFO boom that was not planned for in Perth Airport's capacities.
The strategy blames FIFO traffic for delays, especially during the mid-week peaks of morning and afternoon, and notes the impact private mine airports have on the ability to properly utilise regional airports.
“FIFO traffic is the major contributor to severe congestion at Perth Airport and the Pilbara regional airports during mid-week peak morning and afternoon periods,” the strategy report notes.
“Such is the demand at peak periods that Perth Airport handles a greater number of aircraft movements during peak times than does Sydney Airport, despite Sydney handling three times Perth’s passenger movements.”
According to the WA government, the impact of mines not using the regional airports, but their own airports, is significant.
“Concern has been expressed by a number of regional local governments about the proliferation of private airports in the Pilbara and Eastern Goldfields owing to their potential to detract from the consolidation of infrastructure, services and demand.
“This must be balanced against the need for efficiency and effectiveness of mining operations that makes it impractical to deploy workforces from airports more than 30 minutes’ driving distance.”
The strategy goes on to consider funding options for regional airports and canvasses the possibility of a third runway at Perth, or even a second metropolitan airport. Using RAAF Pearce for civilian operations is not to be considered,
The paper also recognises the value of flight training in WA, and puts forward the possibility of another ILS and NDB being installed somewhere to enable training. At the moment, the only systems available in the south east are at Perth, RAAF Pearce and Albany.
The full report can be downloaded from the WA Department of Transport website.