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Melbourne Airport

Virtual Visitor CentreMaster Plan 2022 and Third Runway

  • Virtual Visitor Centre
  • M3R Flight Path and Noise Tool
  • Glossary

Have your say

The public submission period has now closed.

The Melbourne Airport team is available to answer any questions you have through the ask us a question function, or you can email us at newrunway@melair.com.au.

Melbourne Airport
Master Plan 2022

Have your say about the Preliminary Draft MP22

Have your say

Visit the Virtual Visitor Centre

Melbourne Airport
Third Runway

Have your say about the Preliminary Draft M3R Major Development Plan

Have your say

Visit the M3R Flight Path and Noise Tool
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Using the interactive map

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Welcome to Melbourne Airport’s Flight Path and Noise Tool

This tool is designed to illustrate projected noise impacts and flight paths associated with the construction of Melbourne Airport’s third runway (M3R), which will run parallel to the existing north-south runway.

The noise tool is designed to provide information about the options being considered for the operation of Melbourne Airport’s third runway.

The tool also illustrates the potential noise impacts associated with a future fourth runway, as envisaged in Melbourne Airport’s Preliminary Draft 2022 Master Plan.

How does this impact me?

To view historic flights and aircraft noise associated with the current two runway operation, please click here

More questions?

Visit our online engagement hub

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Why do the flight paths end?

The flight path data collected by The Melbourne Airport Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Glossary

A-Weighted

Referred to as dB(A), convey the loudness of a sound by accounting for the varying sensitivity of the human ear to difference frequencies.

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

A publication containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. The AIP contains details of regulations, procedures and other information pertinent to the operation of aircraft.

Aircraft noise contours

Contours that display the aircraft noise exposure patterns around an airport. These contours help land-use planning of acceptable development in close proximity to the airport.

Airport Master Plan

The principal planning document required under the Airports Act 1996, setting out a 20-year plan for each leased federal airport.

Airport-lessee company

A Commonwealth-owned airport can only be leased to a company. The company is called an airport- lessee company, which in the case of Melbourne Airport is Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited (APAC).

Airservices Australia

Government-owned corporation which provides national air navigation service and aviation rescue fire-fighting services.

Australian Noise Exposure Concept (ANEC)

A map of noise contours based on aircraft operations at an airport in the future. ANEC maps are based on assumptions of future operations. These contours form the basis of an ANEF.

Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF)

A system developed as a land-use planning tool to control encroachment on airports by noise- sensitive buildings. ANEFs are the official forecasts of future noise exposure patterns around an airport and they constitute the contours on which land-use planning authorities base their controls.

Australian Noise Exposure Index (ANEI)

Contours developed under the ANEF framework showing historic noise exposure patterns used in environmental reporting and benchmarking

Buffer Zone

Buffer zones have been included in flight path diagrams within the MDP and Noise Tool to highlight the design stage of the airspace/flight paths. A concept design has been prepared for the MDP and further refinement will occur during the detailed airspace design process should the MDP be approved.

The Flight paths are depicted in the MDP and Noise Tool as a broad band or swathe based around a centreline track it is not possible for aircraft to track precisely along a single line.

Build scenario

The scenario in which the M3R is constructed and operational in accordance with this MDP.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

An independent statutory authority responsible for regulating aviation safety in Australia and the safety of Australian aircraft overseas.

Code C aircraft

An aircraft that has a wingspan of between 24 metres and up to but not including 36 metres. Examples are the Airbus A320 series and Boeing 737 series.

Code E aircraft

An aircraft that has a wingspan of between 52 metres and up to but not including 65 metres. Examples are the Airbus A330 and Boeing 747-400/787

Code F aircraft

An aircraft that has a wingspan of between 65 metres and up to but not including 80 metres. An example is the Airbus A380.

Continuous Climb Operations (CCO)

An aircraft operating technique allowing the execution of a flight profile optimised to the performance of aircraft, leading to significant economy of fuel and environmental benefits in terms of noise and emissions reduction.

Continuous Descent Operations (CDO)

An aircraft operating technique in which an arriving aircraft descends from an optimal position with minimum thrust and avoids level flight to the extent permitted by the safe operation of the aircraft and compliance with published procedures and ATC instructions.

Controlled airspace

Airspace of defined dimensions within which air traffic control services are provided in accordance with airspace classifications.

Green Wedge Zone

A State land-use planning zone to control use of the land and to recognise, protect and conserve green wedge land for its agricultural, environmental, historic, landscape, recreational and tourism opportunities, and mineral and stone resources.

Instrument Approach Procedure

A series of predetermined manoeuvres that provide specific protection from obstacles and terrain. An IAP is used for the orderly transfer of an aircraft from the end of the STAR to a landing, or to a point from which a landing may be executed visually.

Instrument flight rules

Procedures to govern flight when the pilot is unable to navigate using visual references under visual flight rules. This involves flying by reference to instruments in the flight deck and navigating by reference to electronic signals.

Instrument landing system

A navigational aid that provides both directional and glide slope guidance for aircraft landing on a runway at an airport.

LAeq

The equivalent continuous sound level is the energy average of the A-weight noise level over a sample period.

LAmax

The maximum A-weighted noise level that is either predicted or recorded over a period.

Major Development Plan

A requirement under the Airports Act 1996 for airport-lessee companies to provide information to the Commonwealth Government and the public about significant planned development on leased federal airport sites.

Melbourne Airport Environs Overlay

A planning control used to limit noise-sensitive uses and the impacts of aircraft noise on development through measures designed to minimise the noise. The areas where these controls apply are determined by an airport’s forecast aircraft noise exposure contours (ANEF).

‘Melbourne Basin’

Refers to the collective airspace around Melbourne including Melbourne Airport, Essendon Fields Airport, Moorabbin Airport, Avalon Airport and RAAF Base Point Cook.

N-above

Contours indicating the number of noise events that exceed a certain level. For example, an N70 contour level shows the number of events above 70 dB(A)

No Build (BAU) scenario

A scenario in which M3R is not constructed, in which Melbourne Airport remains a two-runway airport for the indefinite future.

Noise Abatement Procedure/s (NAPs)

Specify which operating mode will be selected based on the available modes due to meteorological conditions, time of day, demand and a set of mode priorities

Standard Instrument Departure (SID)

A standard route identified in an instrument departure procedure by which aircraft should proceed from take-off phase to the en-route phase of a flight.

Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR)

A standard route identified in an approach procedure by which aircraft should proceed from the en-route phase of a flight to an initial approach fix.

Urban Growth Boundary

A planning scheme boundary set to control urban sprawl by mandating that the area inside the boundary be used for higher-density urban development, and the area outside be used for lower- density non-urban development.

Visual Flight Rules

A set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.

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Noise Scale dB(A) scale

Noise tool updates

Date Description
April 7th, 2022
  • Added MP22 flight paths
  • Added east-west contours to noise tool to better reflect noise distribution
  • Added helpers on page load to guide user through tool
March 27th, 2022
  • Added disclaimer for addresses potentially receiving increased noise events near airport
  • Improved logic of altitude calculator to cover wider swath of territory
  • Updated wording on map annotations
February 18th, 2022
  • Added altitude calculator to map
February 14th, 2022
  • Added altitude calculator to flight path functionality
January 30th, 2022
  • Flight path and noise tool launched