In June 2025, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) submitted a report to Airservices Australia (Airservices) regarding complaints about usage of the Gold Coast’s Instrument Landing System (ILS). The ANO’s investigation uncovered large, unexplained increases in ILS usage, strongly suggesting the Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs) regarding its usage were being ignored. The report further identified general deficiencies with Airservices’ monitoring of compliance with NAPs and recommended a systemic review of Airservices’ capacity to effectively monitor and publicly report on compliance with NAPs.
Airservices response to the report noted they have been working on new public NAP reporting to cover a total of 10 major and regional airports nationally from May 2025. Airservices advised this reporting is accompanied by a monitoring and investigation process.
The Board of Airservices agreed with the ANO that a review of these newly introduced practices should be undertaken with the following terms of reference:
Commencing in October 2025, the ANO will conduct a review of Airservices’ systems and processes in place at that time for reporting and monitoring on Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs) within the control of Airservices. The review will examine whether:
- Airservices’ contemporary practice sufficiently acquits the requirements of Ministerial Direction 37/99 to monitor and report on NAPs,
- the information reported publicly is clear and understandable to the community, and
- the process to monitor and investigate non-adherence to NAPs is sufficient to improve NAP outcomes.
The ANO will immediately alert the Board through the Chair of the Board Sustainability Committee if, during the review, it observes any material issues which it believes require prompt action by Airservices. A report in accordance with the ANO Charter will be provided to Airservices’ Board in December 2025 providing the ANO findings and identifying areas requiring further review or improvement.
The ANO is looking forward to this opportunity to address long standing concerns from affected communities that NAPs are not effectively monitored.