Sydney Airport To Commence Larger Runway Safety Area

Sydney Airport announced that it will commence the construction of a larger runway safety area at the western end of the east-west runway in April 2008.

The provision of larger runway safety areas at Australia 's airports is a mandatory safety requirement set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and is in line with international aviation standards. They are intended to minimise the harm to passengers in the unlikely event that an aircraft over runs or lands short of a runway.

The CEO of Sydney Airport, Russell Balding, said “ Sydney Airport has three runways, meaning that we require six of these larger runway safety areas. We have already completed five, at a cost of $3 million, and will commence constructing the sixth, at a cost of more than $65 million, in April 2008.

“The construction of the sixth runway safety area will be far more complicated than the five we have constructed so far. This is because some of Sydney 's important infrastructure is in, or near to, the construction area. The design and construction of the runway safety area has taken into account the presence of:

• Sydney Water's Southern and Western Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer (SWSOOS);
• M5 East Motorway Tunnel;
• EnergyAustralia's high voltage power feeder cables; and
• The Cooks River

The runway safety area will be an 8,100 square metre land bridge that will provide a cleared area measuring 90 metres by 90 metres from the end of the runway strip that will assist in the deceleration of an aircraft. Construction will involve the installation of more than one hundred 27 metre long pre-cast concrete structural beams, each weighing more than 25 tonnes.

The large tall cranes, plant and other equipment needed for the construction mean that operations on the east-west runway will be impacted. Pre-construction site works will get underway next month and the runway will either be closed, or have only restricted availability, from April 2008 to completion of the project in mid-2009.

Sydney Airport will provide more detailed information about the construction program and its likely impact on airport operations as the project progresses.

Noise sharing arrangements are contained in Sydney Airport 's Long Term Operating Plan, which is managed by Airservices Australia .

During the project, the aim is to maintain noise sharing as far as practicable. However, the need to temporarily close the east-west runway and prevailing weather will have an unavoidable impact on noise sharing.

Importantly, no new residents will be affected by noise, and the impact will be temporary.

People living under the existing flight paths to the north-south runways will, to varying extents, experience an increase in the frequency of aircraft movements.

Compared to past experience, it is estimated that the total increase in flight movements will be between one and three additional flight movements per hour on the eight separate approach and departure flight paths that exist for the north-south runways. The actual flight movements will, however, vary on a day-to-day basis due to prevailing weather conditions.

“ Sydney Airport apologises to the people who will be affected by this vital runway safety enhancement project, but it is necessary to comply with Australia 's air safety regulations and provide a larger runway safety area.

“A temporary closure is better than a permanent one. As soon as the construction is complete then normal airport operations and noise sharing arrangements will resume.

“Even a temporary closure of the runway is a major step for us to take and we don't take it lightly. It emphasises the importance we place on the essential safety issues at stake.

“This is a safety issue which we must comply with.

“The temporary closure of the east-west runway also means that there will be operational impacts in the event of strong cross-winds. If there are high cross winds while the east-west runway is unavailable it is likely that flights to and from the airport will be delayed or diverted to other airports.

“Improving safety is Sydney Airport 's paramount concern. While there will be disruptions and some inconvenience to passengers while this project is underway – and we apologise for that – this is an essential aviation safety project. It will make the runway safer, and I'm confident the travelling public will understand why it's necessary,” Mr Balding said.