I WELCOME the initiative of Airservices Australia (ASA) to conduct the formal validation trial for an alternate night time flight path over the suburb of Canning Vale as opposed to the present departure flight path over suburbs along the Canning River.
It is worthy to note the history of the present Canning River flight path. It was inserted on the community without consultation in 2008 and without environmental analysis.
In 2008, there were some 30 flights. It is true to say residents for all intents enjoyed them until along came the mining boom (construction phase). With FIFO flights and the increase in international travel through the Middle East (Dubai and Qatar) flights increased to some 120 per day.
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READ NOWLarge international planes have increased and noisy FIFO flights continue with mining companies pursuing a high-volume production strategy to offset the low sale value.
The FIFO flights still start at 5am and in ASA’s words air traffic controllers “fire the next one as soon as the departing tips its wing”.
The internationals track the same path until about 1.30am. This equates to less than five hours quality sleep.
While there is some relief by ASA reclassifying runway 3 and 21, aircraft noise needs to be shared more than just across the community from the Canning River flight path.
The short-term validation trial will deliver material noise measurement as opposed to hypothetical/theoretical calculations in the environmental analysis used by ASA to cancel the 12-month trial because of perceived unequitable noise over Canning Vale.
DENIS MOLONEY, Riverton.