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

9.3.4. Can capacity caps be introduced to limit the total number of aircraft
movements at Moorabbin Airport in total?
Moorabbin Airport does not have a capacity cap. It has a movement forecast which is
currently 500,000 movements by the year 2039. In 2009 the number of movements was
310,000 and the 500,000 capacity would be reached with an incremental growth of 1.5% pa.
DVCA want a capacity cap of 310,000 and a progressive reduction by 10% per year.
RVAC:
Present day economics has an enormous impact on the current training regime and therefore
it is almost impossible to predict hours necessary to cover the training hours required to
teach the unknown number of students each school may have enrolled in the future. Flying
training is a multibillion dollar industry. Aviation relies and has a huge international market
in flight training and it is in the best interest of the Federal and local governments as well as
the local community to support the present infrastructure at Moorabbin Airport and what it
stands for.
Flying training for the purpose of conducting circuits is governed by the relevant training
syllabuses issued by CASA.
Oxford Aviation Academy:
Setting a cap arbitrarily at 2009 levels and then reducing per annum is not acceptable from a
business perspective. It sets up the airport for a slow death and would force flying schools to
move. A quota system would be cumbersome and difficult to administer. If it had to be
introduced, a monthly quota would be the most viable option to allow for weather conditions
and training patterns.
Tristar Aviation:
No. Once again a restriction of trade issue. Merely an opportunity to reduce the viability of
flying schools who should in no way be restricted from the opportunity of business growth,
job creation and business security.
Moorabbin Airport Corporation:
MAC is not an airspace manager and does not have facilities or ability to operate such a cap.
The ludicrous idea comes to mind that if a total movement cap of, say, 300,000 was put in
place what would happen on a day in May when the 300,001 st aircraft wished to land?
Would the airport simply shut for two months?
The Commonwealth has the ability, contained in the Airports Act 1996, to require the airport
to prepare a new ANEF if it (the airport) has reason to suspect that the forecast may be
exceeded. Under section 78 (2A) of the Airports Act 1996 this would then trigger the
establishment of a new Master Plan with associated public consultation requirements.
Airservices Australia:
Capacity caps would require regulation. A booking system has been tried before and failed as
slots are booked and not filled due to changing circumstances such as changes to the
weather, aircraft serviceability, etc.
Airservices does not have the capability to manage such a proposed slot system.
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