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

City of Greater Dandenong:
The City of Greater Dandenong made an identical submission to the City of Kingston.
Dingley Village Community Association:
As Dingley Village lies under the downwind legs of the Eastern circuits the DVCA feels that
altering the circuits at each end, i.e. base or crosswind legs would not make too much
difference. Having larger circuits may be a possibility, as may extending the upwind leg when
taking off to the South on an Eastern circuit
A thorough review of all options would be supported by DVCA.
9.2.3. Can helicopters confine their circuits entirely within the airport boundary?
Moorabbin Airport is a major centre for both helicopter operations and helicopter training.
Over 65 helicopters are based on the airport, the majority private or corporate, and there
are two schools performing helicopter flight training. Most noise complaints from Dingley
relate to helicopters training operations. Most noise complaints from other areas (Parkdale,
Mordialloc, Cheltenham) relates to helicopters transiting into or out of Moorabbin Airport
and not doing circuit training.
Helicopters fly circuits WITHIN the fixed wing circuit and at a slightly lower altitude for safety
and separation reasons. Some training is entirely within the airfield and at low altitude.
However a number of operations require essentially a rotary wing circuit.
The question is asked whether ALL helicopter operations can be confined WITHIN the airport
boundary, or at best over Boundary Road and the industrial developments there.
Professional Helicopter Services:
Circuit training is a vital part of training a pilot and can be altered slightly. However the
major issue that we must keep at the top of the list is safety. For safety reasons a circuit
cannot be:
• Made significantly narrower or changed from the standard configuration.
• Made higher unless the fixed wing circuit is also increased. A minimum of 300 feet
separation must be maintained between helicopters and fixed wing.
It is important to understand that most training operations are conducted entirely within the
boundaries of the airport, and at low level. For instance hovering and mustering practice
takes place within the confines of the airside restricted area. In recent months we have had
the ability to conduct low‐level training within the former golf course although this is a
temporary use.
However, helicopters need to do “circuits” as well as fixed wing aircraft. Whilst they can
hover, transiting to commence practice approaches involves a circuit mush as in the case of a
fixed wing aircraft. We conduct our circuits within the boundary of the fixed wing circuit and
at a slightly lower altitude for safety reasons. This normally takes us over Boundary Road to
the East and we avoid overflight of residential housing where possible.
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