Circuit Training at Moorabbin Airport Circuit Training at Moorabbin ...

6. VOLUME OF CIRCUIT TRAFFIC
6.1 Moving Flying Training Circuit Training.
In the course of the Taskforce’s discussions Local Councils near Moorabbin Airport, the City
of Kingston and City of Greater Dandenong, suggested all fixed wing circuit training cease by
2025 or 2030 and helicopter training cease by 2015.
There are 31 aerodromes and landing grounds within 45 nautical miles of Melbourne
including many operated by other Local Councils. However many of these locations confront
the same issues as Moorabbin in terms of nearby residential areas and many do not have
sufficient standard facilities or services to provide for dedicated flying training activities.
MAC notes that currently individual aircraft, airline and training operators can determine
from which airports they will operate. These decisions are based on a range of economic,
business and operational factors. Aircraft operators must also meet relevant safety and
operational standards pertaining to their specific type of operation whether it be for major
regular passenger transport or for flying training.
Over time patterns of operations have developed in the Melbourne region whereby
Tullamarine has become the major international and domestic airport, Avalon and Essendon
have a mix of traffic including some domestic and intrastate passenger services, and airports
such as Moorabbin have become important centres for flying training.
Proposals to shift training activity out of Moorabbin clearly raise fundamental economic and
legal issues. Aircraft operators have existing contractual and sub‐lease agreements with
MAC.
Relocation of operations inevitably raises potentially significant cost and viability issues for
the training industry. For example the introduction of a new flight training facility would
require dedicated infrastructure, and the location would have to be able to attract and
retain flying instructors and local and overseas students. Therefore any proposals to
consider moving flying circuit training out of Moorabbin are likely to revolve around some
form of broader, long term State planning approach whereby particular Victorian locations
where developed as training airports preferably free or relatively free of impacts on
surrounding communities, particularly residential areas.
In this context, responding to community and Local Council proposals, MAC suggests a
longer term review at the future of aviation operations in Melbourne and regional Victoria,
particularly related to the flying training industry. In this context measures to encourage
rather than forcing flight training re‐locations might be examined including establishing
training airports based in less populated Melbourne or regional locations.
This approach is consistent with previously expressed views from the Victorian Government
outlining their support of aviation training in Melbourne and surrounds and the need to
manage aviation capacity in an integrated way across jurisdictions.
Recommendation 7: The relevant Victorian Government agency, in consultation with the
Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport, undertake a review of the future
aviation needs of Melbourne and regional Victoria, with particular emphasis on the pilot
and helicopter training industries.
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