Noise Abatement Procedure Review

Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs) are the best way to help minimise the noise created by aircraft operations.

In June 2025, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) reported to the Airservices Board following its review of complaints about usage of the Gold Coast’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) (available here). The ANO’s investigation uncovered large, unexplained increases in ILS usage, suggesting the relevant NAPs were not being followed. 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.

The Board of Airservices responded to this report in August 2025. The response noted that Airservices had been working on new public NAP reporting to cover a total of 10 major and regional airports nationally from May 2025, 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.

Gold Coast – compliance with Noise Abatement Procedures

An Instrument Landing System (ILS), which concentrates landing aircraft in a narrow path, was introduced at Gold Coast airport to facilitate easier landings in poor weather. Concerned residents petitioned the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), which made it a condition of the airport’s Major Development Plan that a Noise Abatement Procedure (NAP) be developed to ensure that the ILS would only be used when weather conditions demanded it, or in emergencies.

Investigation of complaints about the proposed Hobart Noise Abatement Procedure trial

As part of its post implementation review (PIR) of flight paths associated with Hobart Airport, Airservices Australia (Airservices) continues to engage with communities affected by aircraft noise. One result has been consideration of a potential Noise Abatement Procedure (NAP) trial. The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) received complaints about delays when Airservices’ self-imposed due date for finalisation lapsed and more complaints about the outcome.

Investigation into complaints about the flight paths associated with the Brisbane Airport new parallel runway

As of 30 June 2021, the ANO received 265 complaints regarding aircraft noise following the opening of Brisbane Airport’s new parallel runway. One complaint from the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance incorporated a survey of 2075 residents adversely affected. The ANO conducted a multi-complaints review of Airservices’ environmental assessment of the impact of the flight paths developed for the new runway and its community engagement with potentially affected residents.

Investigation into complaints about flight paths over East Melbourne

The complainants are community groups from inner Melbourne who complain about both noise from aircraft landing at Melbourne Airport and helicopter sightseeing flights.

Addendum to: Compliance Audit of Australian Super Hornet Flying Operations at RAAF Base Amberley

In October 2019, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) presented the findings of its audit of the Department of Defence (Defence’s) compliance with the Conditions of Approval for Australian Super Hornet Flying Operations, RAAF Base, Amberley, QLD (EPBC 2008/4410), as varied by Ministerial approval in April 2014 (Conditions of Approval). The Delegate of the Minister for the Environment approved the ANO office to undertake the review on 9 April 2019 and approved the ANO’s proposed audit criteria and methodology on 23 May 2019.