Aircraft noise complaints taking off

07/Aug/2012

Comments: 35 readers have left a comment

Aircraft Noise Action Group member Hugh Smith says something needs to be done about noise over local suburbs. Aircraft Noise Action Group member Hugh Smith says something needs to be done about noise over local suburbs.

SHELLEY and Ferndale residents are among a growing number of people complaining about aircraft noise.

Last financial year, 748 people complained about aircraft movements to Airservices Australia, the government body responsible for airspace management.

These individuals lodged 22,604 complaints about aircraft movements from Perth Airport.

An Airservices Australian spokeswoman said the suburbs with the highest number of complainants were Ferndale, Shelley, Waterford and Guildford. Complaints were also registered from Canning Vale and Roleystone residents.

This is an increase of 512 complainants from five years ago when only 236 people cited issues with aircraft movements, most from Guildford, Kalamunda and Rivervale.

Aircraft Noise Action Group member and Shelley resident Hugh Smith said the increasing number of complaints were due to more planes flying overhead.

“The number of planes using Perth Airport to cater for the growing population is just going to increase and the problem is only going to get worse,” he said.

Mr Smith said unless flight paths or heights were changed he would be forced to leave his riverside property.

“In the interim, something needs to be done to alleviate the issues that affect people living under flight paths,” he said.

“People in the group are having their amenity and health affected.”

The Airservices Australia spokeswoman said the organisation worked with the Perth Community Aviation Consultation Group, Perth Airport, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman and the aviation industry to try to resolve issues.

“We use a number of methods to reduce the impact of aircraft noise, including noise abatement procedures, the introduction of new technologies and fly neighbourly procedures,” she said.

She said a new flight route trial was also under way to reduce the number of aircraft flying at low heights during the night over suburbs north-west of the airport.


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What everyone else is thinking

Karawara Dave

31/03/2013

There needs to be a lot more debate about long term location of the main Perth airport as airports are a Federal responsibility and there is an upcoming Federal election. Why not move the Perth domestic/international airport to the RAAF facilities at Bullsbrook? Now Bullsbrook is the busiest RAAF training facility in Australia and would need to be moved to a regional location - the regions are crying out for development. A big advantage of moving to Bullsbrook is that most flights from Perth head to the north or east. The more than 2000 hectares of the Perth domestic/international airport site would provide a boon for development and sale of the land - which would amount to billions of dollars - can pay for the move of the airport facilities to Bullsbrook? Curfews are another option (as occur in Adelaide) if the airport is kept at its current location? Newer aircraft may be slightly less noisy, but there are physical limits as to how quietly a 300 tonne jet aircraft can take-off.

Grumpy Karen

28/02/2013

I was just thinking the same thing STEVE......I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I AM READING!!!!!!. BIT OF NOISE, now convince me you have NO connection with the airport!. As for hearing BIRDS, ha, ya won't be hearing any birds when those aircraft come over besides there is very few birds at night to listen to even if we could hear them. Now move along to the knitting page that you were looking for, you obviously know nothing about non stop low flighing aircraft ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

Steve

27/02/2013

I came across this page while looking for something else, I cannot believe what I am reading!

You all want progress, most of you catch planes yourself! I guess if we put the airport 50km out of the city, we could all read a page about how unfair it is that we have to drive 50km to the airport.

We cannot make everyone happy, there always going to be a few that have a bit of noise! unless we ban planes completely

I Have have spent most of the last 40 years in and arround Cannington, Yes some airplains fly overhead, they make a little noise. I have not had any problem sleeping and my life has not been disturbed by this.

I guess if you do a decent days work, you sleep Well! if you concentrate on something like the noise its all you hear, try listening to the birds its much nicer !

Baggins

27/12/2012

I share the views of "Lou" from Rockingham. Here the problem is aerobatic aircraft. Aerobatics are not a commercial operation such as an airport and is totally unneccesary over or close to any surburbs. They fly from a local, small airstrips kms away and drive us residents here insane with the up & down drone of an unsilenced, high power aircraft engine. The issue has only become apparent in the last two or three years. This is a completely avoidable and easily solved. Simply make it mandatory to carry out aerobatics out to sea about 30 kms. I've tried appealing to these people only to receive abuse and mockery. It's only a matter of time before some of the many down here take matters into their own hands as officialdom won't do a thing about it. I'm surprised the Navy at Stirling Base haven't told them to leave the area. "9/11" anyone?

Grumpy Karen

19/12/2012

Tara, count yourself VERY lucky you are just renting, my heart went out to you until I realised you were renting. Get out and take it as a lesson for your further renting or purchasing. Including realising the airport noise goes out for 30 kilometres and more. Renting, be VERY happy you don't own it!!!.

tara southern

15/12/2012

I live in the Cannington area and i am sick and tired of listening to aeroplanes flying across my house at midnight...2 to 3 to 4 minutes apart each time...i am awake at 5am for work and have to constantly listen to planes flying above my house every 5 minutes...i have timed them...throughout the night and daily...its driving me crazy!!! I am only renting and have heard property owners get an allowance for being in the flight path...what a joke!!! Come on...there must be a curfew on the noise as is any party at any residence or any other disturbance to the public!!

Lou

17/10/2012

We also are having this problem over Rockingham W.A.
Does anybody know of an action group in Rockingham that I can contact.
Council handballs the issues.
Local State member handballs the issues.
Not even on the radar for the local Fedral members radar.
I get pretty cheezed of when I can't even relax in my own backyard and these planes drone overhead at over 93db noise limit. If they were motor bikes or cars the cops would pull them over and take them off the road for exeeding the noise limit.

Grumpy Karen

12/09/2012

I'm just not too sure if there is still a BIG price(noisewise) to be paid to less co2 emissions(Kevin). Is a big part of RNP(the green project) based around planes taking short cuts and cutting corners on flight paths. I guess it won't bother anyone unless the shortcut comes over their roof????. Certainly noise changed A LOT over Wynnum(Brisbane), absolutely quadtrippled over a year or so, planes turning to land directly over our house, exiting flight paths really noisy, all day and all night. Only quantities, hmmmmm, I really don't think so. Small alterations to flight paths can also make a big difference to YOUR noise share, while still saying, 'we are using the same flight paths'!. Less co2 emission is also code word for less fuel being used(bigger profits?). Ya know I'm all for less co2 emissions, but I can't have MORE noise, you can have my share Kev!.

Kevin

05/09/2012

I would have 650 "Grumpy" Karen's on planet earth rather than 650 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere every single year from one airport in Australia.

Las

04/09/2012

My concern is for my 4 year old daughter. She is scared of the loud noise and will no longer sleep in her own bed. I have problems getting her to sleep at least two planes will vibrate through the house while I sit with her while she tries to go to sleep, then she is woken through the night and early morning. When she dosent wake she sighs, tosses and cries in her sleep as the planes goes over. During the day she asks the planes to sleep and stop following her and puts her fingers in her ears. I am so tired from lack of sleep and coping with a tired and upset four year old. I have lived in Bentley for 12 years and only complained for the first time this month since it has started affecting my daughter.

Grumpy Karen

04/09/2012

Ah yes RNP, Smart Tracking, Performance Navigation. Well as far as I can see (living close to Brisbane airport in a previously quiet suburb) there will be winners and loosers with RNP. In Brisbane I believe it has allowed some flight paths to become busier ie overflights of the airport. Nothing much mentioned about RNP and DEPARTING aircraft noise. Within existing flight paths does allow for changes within those paths, ie concentrating noise. Well great if it's NOT over you ha ha. Beware of noise sharing, they may be sharing MORE your way!. Not to mention moving aircraft noise to undeveloped area's or less noise sensitive, there will still be plenty of people living there. Brisbane now has RNP and over us the aircraft noise has quadtrippled and 'changed' over the last year year , lucky us huh. Oh did I mention, we have shifted since, cost us a lot though!

Kevin

03/09/2012

Ask your Federal Member of Parliament why RNP technology (Check it out on Wikipedia) not being installed at Perth Airport? Apparently it is now being installed at about 17 smaller airports around Australia. I believe in 2008 it was trialled over Brisbane (Known as the Brisbane Green Project) and gather it saved 200 tonnes of fuel and reduced CO2 emissions by 650 tonnes. Seeing that the current Labor Government introduced the Carbon Tax, it begs the question why don't they use some of these tax dollars to install RNP Technology Australia wide? Imagine the reduction in the amount of CO2 emissions throughout the country. My understanding is that this technology (RNP) also gives air traffic controllers much greater flexibility on how aircraft are brought into land. From what I read the present Labor Federal Government wants industry to cut carbon emissions by taxing the hell out of them, but does not want to play their part. It's a case of, do as I say and not as I do!

Fed up

30/08/2012

I also agree with Richard the Great, good stuff. Keep complaining, its the only way we can let ASA and the government know. Not that I expect them to do anything - the monthly noise statistics are poorly analysed, very basic, and attempt to diminish what they call "serial complainers". Its arrogant and insulting, but what do you expect. How about some actual analysis like when most complaints occur (2am?), type of aircraft etc? How about a curfew or even better, move the airport? How about a social conscience instead of everything being about money?

Kevin

30/08/2012

I agree with everything Richard The Great said in his comment dated 27/08/2012. Sue, keep on complaining, using Webtrak, until something is done about this noise pollution.

Sue

29/08/2012

I moved to Applecross in 2010, after having grown up here in the 1960s-1970s. There were no warnings to prospective buyers that Applecross had become so affected by noise from outbound jet aircraft. Like Shelley and other suburbs nearby, we have up to 20 aircraft an hour flying low and very loud most mornings between 5:30am and 8:00am. Not to mention the afternoon flights, midnight flights, 2:00am flights and 3:00 am flights. How is it acceptable that the amenity of so many established suburbs has become so compromised?

Richard The Great

27/08/2012

Again we have aviation industry apologists spewing forth venom like cornered serpents. Let me repeat the argument: we are questioning the right of the aviation industry to be a parasite and externalize their costs on the community and damage our health. No amount of name calling (ad Hominum), foul and abusive language on community internet forums will change that. In general most children realize, at the age of about ten, that no argument can be won by name calling or slinging mud. Evidently some of us missed that lesson.

Today we have the industry apologists hiding behind safety. Previously it was air ambulances, police helicopters, water bombers. In industry health and safely are inseparable. That's why they call it OSH. Mass circuit training including mock stalls over residential areas as practiced by General Aviation makes a mockery of the aviation industry's claim of safety first.

Time to move the airport - the apologist's excuses just ran out.

Daisy

27/08/2012

The thought cry me a river comes to mind when I read all the noise complaints.
The truth is aviation safety is and always should be the first thing considered when planning fight paths. People who complain and insist on pushing governments to change policies so they receive noise reduction are selfish stupid assholes.
How do any of you expect air traffic controllers to act and respond in emergencies when ristrictions are placed on them to consider noise complaints. The truth is planes landing at Perth airport can accept a tailwind if 5kts (or more) because it's easier than changing a runway and getting "concerned members of the public" call in and complain.
To all those people complaining I suggest you get a complete understanding of the operational requirements of planes and the operations including flight paths in Perth before you complain again. Because if you actually understood how airports run you may realise how selfish and unsafe your complaints are. End rant.

Solution

24/08/2012

Range Court Seven, having lived in Kingsley and Darch for the most part of the last 20 years, I must say you need to turn the Tele up. If you can't hear the TV or doorbell due to the aircraft noise, you must have something wrong.
Try living in these areas such as Langford etc, and you will concede that the noise you experience isn't really that bad in the scheme of things...

Marg

21/08/2012

One of my many conversations with ASA, what can we do? their reply,
"move"! let someone else inherit the aircraft noise.

Grumpy Karen

20/08/2012

Don't look to Brisbane airport for answers. It's the 2nd busiest in the country and it is very very very noisey and getting noisier every day. No matter what airservices and hangers on TRY to make you believe.

Donna

14/08/2012

I live in Langford and when I moved here there were no flight paths over us, now they, land and turn on top of us and to make matters worse as a knee jerk reaction to the fern dale complaints they are now taking off and turning to the east and the west on top of Langford. Do less socio economic suburbs deserve to be treated like a noise dump zone? We already have the Roe highway cutting through our suburb this also wasn't here when I moved here.

Richard the Great

13/08/2012

Now we get onto some more logical fallacies. The next favorite is: "you fly (an assumption that is not always true) therefore you must put up with the noise". QED. There you are! This is a total non sequitur. It does not follow. It is a complete disconnect in logic. It does not make sense. Does that logic allow a mining company exporting lead to poison the folk along the railway line. They use lead in their car batteries after all. What about the 10% of children with thyroid tumours near Fukushima? They use electricity? Whingers! or is mental health now a joke?

It is precisely that we benefit from the industry that we need to reform it. ASA has shown that it cannot be trusted as an industry watchdog. They flaunt the FOI act and the NEU operates covertly as a "information system". Do you think we care that it was the BA flight from Singapore that woke us up at 2am?

Richard the Great

13/08/2012

Again we have an article about aircraft noise and the industry apologists are back in force with nonsensical arguments. Evidently formation of action groups and federal pollies introducing "bills" has rattled some cages!

The favorite logical fallacy is Ignoratio Elenchi also known as the Chembacca Defence (watch this on YouTube). "The airport was there first" and anyone who moved in there after 1940 has no case. The real argument is we are questioning the right of the aviation industry to externalize their costs on the community and destroy our health. The airport may have been there first (correct) but this is really a distraction from the real issue. If this argument is valid then the airport must have been 100% illegitimate when it opened as it postdated all dwellings around it at this time.

And incidentally calling people names such as "whinger" merely shows one up to be the irrational puerile troll you are.

Clearly the airport is now in the wrong

Dean May

13/08/2012

Also for those " it doesn't affect me so who cares " just remember this : they can change the departure and arrival routes overnight, literally, and without consultation, like they did less than a decade ago. Next time your flight is delayed on the ground or in the air, remember you are departing/arriving from one of the worst managed airports in the world ( voted in top 10 worst in the world ) and guess who is paying for that extra fuel to hold for up to 30 mins ? Yep, you are.
How do I know all this ? I've had the displeasure of watching Perth airport deteriorate over the last 10 years as operating flight crew.

Dean may

13/08/2012

As usual with anything aviation you have the usual suspects making ridiculous claims like low clouds increasing A/C noise, that's a good one. All u I'm alright Jack stuff everybody else thoughtful people need to realise its irrelevant how long the airport has been there, the current departure tracks have been in place less than 8 years, and around 5% of the population are getting ALL of the aircraft noise. An extra runway, you are joking right? They currently use only one runway more than 50% of the time, and when they r using that runway they have less than 1/2 the movements of a single runway airport in the UK, eg Manchester. You experts wanna know why ? Because when they r using the southerly runway, over 3/4 of the FIFO traffic depart over forrestfield, lesmurdie, and Kalamunda plus some suburbs closer to the airport ( 20-30 aircraft in 2 hours ) and due to separation they can't sequence any more aircraft because they refuse to use that second runway.

dese

12/08/2012

I think its high time that the aviation industry started investing in anti gravity aircrafts. Planes are too noisy and take too long to fly.

Stanley

10/08/2012

And the moral of the story is .... If you don't like it packup and move (back) to Brisbane. Bring on the new runway at Perth airport and Jadakot. People eventualy move on regardless.

Kevin

09/08/2012

Fact - Air Services Australia (ASA) changed the flight paths into Perth Airport WITHOUT consulting the residents of Canning Vale. When I purchased my house in Canning Vale 17 years ago NO large planes flew over the area. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) was installed at Perth Airport in 2008 and that is why there are more aircraft, using a narrower corridor, flying over Canning Vale on their approach into Perth Airport. Residents in all areas affected by aircraft noise MUST keep on complaining until such time something is done about it. MOVE THE PERTH AIRPORT TO A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION AND HAVE A TRAIN SERVICE INTO THE CITY. FOLLOW EXAMPLE SET BY BRISBANE.

Dougie

09/08/2012

Cable launched gliders. THAT'S the answer.

Good one

09/08/2012

Eastside Massive - you're even worse than the "whingers" - you whinge about the whingers. Got anything better to do with your time? Also - only Melbourne was mentioned, not the entire east coast. Sydney is the most complained about airport in Aus - Perth next. Have some sympathy, if you are capable.

Stanley

09/08/2012

Moan moan moan moan moan, how do these moaners get on when they are in a room with woman all talking over each all the time. Selective hearing, tune out and tune into what one you want to listen to. Low clouds during winter make planes Sound louder too.

Eastside Massive

09/08/2012

Suck it up mate! If you were there before the airport was built then so be it, but I suggest you were'nt. If some people didnt complain they would have nothing to do. "Perth's too small, boring. We need more things to do...blah blah blah..." With more people/resources booms comes more cash for the state, increased urban sprawl, higher density living and , wait for it, increased air traffic, "No Way".. Unless you'd prefer they all come by boat.. But lets not get you started on that.... The reason they dont get as many complaints over east is because they're not a bunch of winging little nancies and they just get on with it. You've got it good so try and enjoy your 'Riverside' property.

Fed up

08/08/2012

It is pretty obvious ASA don't care at all (proven over the years even with a senate inquiry) - that and Perth airport has completely outgrown its location. It needs to be moved somewhere more practical. Melbourne airport has less than 50 complains a month - Perth has around 2000+. But hey, its all about economics and money - stuff the residents. Why do you think Perth doesn't have a curfew? Do the people of Sydney deserve a good nights sleep more than us? Its a disgrace. I can only think to vote Federal Liberal, they seem to be more sympathetic.

JON RODGERS AVIATION CONSULTING

07/08/2012

Instead of hustling noise complaints and using them to harass and intimidate the carriers which causes a safety problem, Air Services Austrailia should try a little community management. They should make sure that if Mr. Smith is "forced to leave", the person who buys or rents his place knows why he bailed out.

Range Court Seven

07/08/2012

Its NOT just Ferndale, Shelley, Waterford, Guildford, Canning Vale, Rolleystone, Kalamunda and Rivervale that are effected by aircraft noise please add Mullaloo to the list of worst effected suburbs of aircraft noise pollution, the noise drives me crazy at times, I can't even hear the TV or the doorbell ring at times.

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