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

9.3. The volume of circuit traffic at Moorabbin Airport.
9.3.1. Can flying schools be encouraged to move some of their flight training to
other airports?
A major question that has been continually raised is the possibility of more flight training
being accomplished in regional or country airports. A move to encourage flight training in
regional or rural locations needs to be considered carefully however. Almost all airports in
close proximity to Melbourne currently also have local community issues regarding noise
and safety.
In the long term the introduction of new flight training requires dedicated infrastructure at
regional airports, and the ability of the school to attract and retain high quality flying
instructors as well as ensure a good quality of life for the students.
However to seek to MOVE current flight training from Moorabbin requires more attention.
All current schools have long term leases on Moorabbin Airport which may not be
voluntarily broken. In addition for the most part they physically own their own buildings that
cannot be moved. In addition they find Moorabbin attractive as a training environment
precisely because they can attract and retain good instructors as the airport is close to a city.
Similarly access to good low cost accommodation is relatively easy. Schools would have to
be given a considerable capital incentive to move and the airport they move to would need
to be properly licensed and equipped, and importantly have planning buffers inserted
around it to prevent the encroachment of residential housing into flight training areas. More
likely is the possibility of encouraging the transfer of some flying training to other airports.
Airports or sites close to Moorabbin, or viable for some flight training, would be:
Tyabb, Mornington Peninsula ‐ One tarmac runway and around 100 based aircraft.
Already the subject of a number of community groups complaining about aircraft noise. 20
minutes flying time from Moorabbin.
Tooradin, Westernport Bay ‐ Small coastal airport with tarmac runway. Close to the
Tooradin township. 20 minutes flying time from Moorabbin.
Lilydale and Coldstream ‐ Small airports in the rural Yarra Valley but with considerable
dispersed residential areas nearby. Coldstream is already used to an extent by RVAC. 15
minutes flying time from Moorabbin.
Lethbridge, Melton, Bacchus Marsh ‐Airports west of Melbourne but a considerably
longer flying time.
Mangalore. ‐Extensive infrastructure to the North of Melbourne. Posible satellite site but
distance is considerable.
Bayles.‐Former WW2 aerodrome covered with grass near Koo‐We‐Rup. Privately owned
land but no residential housing nearby.
In recent years only two studies have been undertaken into the airspace requirements of the
Port Phillip Bay area:
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