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

9.2 The pattern and times of circuit training.
Both the Department of Infrastructure and Transport and the State Government of Victoria
made overall comments on the entirety of Section 1: The Pattern and Times of Training
Circuits:
Department of Infrastructure and Transport:
The Department is supportive, subject to maintenance of aviation safety standards, of
further investigation by the airport operator, Airservices and flying training operators into a
more balanced use of both training circuits; the hours in which circuit training operations
occur; and the use of the Airport’s Fly Friendly Agreement as a condition of use of the Airport.
Of course, there will need to be appropriate consultation with the community on any
proposed changes to the current pattern of training circuits. If a more balanced use of the
available training circuits, subject to ensuring safe operations are maintained, is an option
which should be investigated.
The Department strongly supports a review of the times in which circuit training is available.
If the review indicates there would be low or minimal impacts on a small number of training
operations during sensitive periods such as evenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then a
positive community amenity improvement may be achieved by limiting the hours in which
training circuits are available for use on those nights.
It is acknowledged that night training is required, but if there are patterns of usage which
indicate very few flights during particular evening periods, then it is clearly worth examining
whether these flights could not take place during other evening periods.
State Government of Victoria:
This question is somewhat premature because there is really no standard or formula that can
be applied to produce a clear answer in terms of percentages or even numbers of
movements. In any event, there are a number of engagement and approval processes at
both State and federal levels that would flow from and need to be addressed in an integrated
way to effectively implement any particular chosen scenario.
9.2.1. 70‐80% of circuit training is over Dingley. Can this be altered?
Most circuit training is performed on the Eastern circuit, partly for historical reasons. During
the main expansion phase of the airport in the 1960’s and 1970’s the area to the East of the
airport was least populated and Dingley was a small village. Is this relevant today and should
consideration be given to moving more traffic to the Western circuit as a noise “respite”
measure?
This concept is already in use in Sydney as “Noise sharing” and is relatively common at other
airports around the world.
RVAC:
This Noise sharing between runways does not impact the flying school or its operations.
MFT:
Melbourne Flight Training has no issues with the suggestion of utilising both the Eastern and
Western circuit patterns. In fact I feel that this may be desirable and have a positive safety
impact. By utilising the Western Circuit that will minimise the need to cross an active runway
and can only improve safety.
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