A confidential briefing on the airspace design for Western Sydney (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport held late last month has fueled fears within the general aviation community for the future of flight training at Bankstown.
Western Sydney Airport (WSA) is currently under construction at Badgerys Creek, placing it in what is currently the training area for both Bankstown and Camden airports.
Although little is known of the proposed design, large parts of what is now Class G airspace is expected to be changed to CTA, shutting out training operations.
The meeting, held on 31 August, presented technical details of the proposed airspace design to 45 stakeholders out of 110 invited. The department, CASA and Airservices Australia all made presentations.
All attendees were required to sign confidentiality agreements, which has sparked accusations of secrecy and kept details of the design under wraps.
According to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, technical feedback provided on the day will be used to refine the proposed airspace architecture before it is released for public comment.
"Attendees were asked to sign an acknowledgment of confidentiality to attend the meeting because they were shown airspace design material that has not been publicly released yet," a departmental spokesperson said.
"This material will be publicly released for feedback in the coming months either as part of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the WSA airspace design or other aviation sector consultation mechanisms as appropriate.
"The draft EIS for the preliminary flight paths will be released for public exhibition later this year. Individuals and organisations will be able to make formal submissions on the flight paths and their impacts then, including impacts to other aerodromes."
Despite reassurances from the government, stakeholders report leaving the briefing feeling pessimistic about the future of training at Bankstown because controlled airspace associated with WSA is likely to consume much of the current training area, forcing long cruises to areas where upper-air work would be possible.
Aeria Management Group, the lessee of both Bankstown and Camden is concerned that the new airspace will restrict the ability of flying schools to operate efficiently.
"Aeria Management Group is actively consulting with government and departmental representatives on the scope and design of Western Sydney International Airport, including through our representation on the Forum on Western Sydney Airport and our facilitation of meetings between our customers and the Department," an Aeria spokesperson said.
"We share the growing concerns of our customers about the likely impacts of changes to flight paths and airspace on general aviation operators.
"The evolving new airspace design and flight paths for Western Sydney International Airport will have a significant economic impact on pilot training schools at Bankstown Airport, with operators facing increased flight times, extended training schedules and higher costs.
"These costs will likely result in a substantial cut in flight training activities and cast a cloud over the nation’s next generation of pilots.
"Amid a global pilot shortage, pilot training services at Bankstown Airport and Camden Airport are more vital than ever to Australia’s air industry.
"We look forward to the release of the Environmental Impact Statement for Western Sydney International Airport and the opportunity to continue putting our case for compensation or additional funding for our Greater Sydney metro airports and operators, to ensure the continued viability of pilot training schools and essential general aviation services."
Sources within the Sydney GA community still constrained by the confidentiality agreements have told Australian Flying that the new CTA zones are likely to result in the closure or exodus of small, independent flying schools from Bankstown, leaving colleges, charter operators and emergency services as the primary users of the airport in the future.