Planes may leave late in new system - Perth
From The West, today...
Originally Posted by Byline Geoff Thomas
Flights out of Perth's congested airport could be delayed up to 45 minutes from their advertised departure times from tomorrow with the introduction of a schedule co-ordination system to prevent long queues of planes waiting to take-off.
According to air traffic control provider AirServices Australia, the slot system is required because Perth Airport's runways cannot handle demand from fly-in, fly-out flights from Tuesday to Thursday between 5.30am and 8.30am.
The change will mean passengers will spend more time in departure lounges instead of in planes on the tarmac. Airlines will advise the night before of their timetable and AirServices will advise a slot time for push back depending on forecast weather conditions.
Under the system, passengers may find that a 6.30am departure may be delayed up to 45 minutes in a worst case scenario but they should experience no delay once their plane is pushed back from the terminal.
To alleviate congestion at Perth, AirServices started delaying the departure of Perth-bound flights from Sydney and also slowed them up across the country. That system will be extended to Melbourne to Perth flights this year.
Plane movements at Perth Airport have doubled in 10 years and are expected to reach 139,000 this year - years ahead of forecast.
At the current rate, the airport will reach its runway capacity of more than 200,000 flights in and out a year by 2020, but well before that date will be at maximum capacity during the week.
In December the State Government launched a strategy review of WA's aviation sector to ensure policies and infrastructure plans at key airports can meet unprecedented resources-driven growth.
At the launch, Transport Minister Troy Buswell said he wanted to ensure that infrastructure was in place to enable, not impede, growth.
The review will look at key issues such as a third runway at Perth Airport to ease congestion at peak times, strategies to cut airport noise, relocating the airport in the longer term and regional aviation development.
Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches said at the launch of the inquiry that it was willing to look at a third runway.
The "planes" are leaving late now (and have been for some years). The only difference is that the new system will (hopefully) make the lateness a little less "adhoc" (until the slot adjustments start at 5.45...
).
Last edited by Capn Bloggs; 7th Mar 2012 at 22:11.
Reason: Paper name added.