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Who is responsible for aircraft noise management?

Perth Airport only has direct control over the management of ground-based aircraft noise.  Watch this video to hear about the other organisations responsible for managing aircraft noise, including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Airservices Australia and Perth Airport, and how Perth Airport keeps the community informed.

Organisation Roles and Responsibilities
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
  • Establishes strict noise certification standards for new aircraft
  • Provides guidance on noise management strategy
  • Australia is a member state of ICAO
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
  • Independent statutory authority with responsibility for regulation of civil aviation operations in Australia
  • Provides overriding consideration to air safety
  • Responsible for airspace regulation through the Office of Airspace Regulation
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development
  • Advises the Federal Government on the policy and regulatory framework for Australian airports and the aviation industry
  • Provides policy advice to the Minister on the management of aircraft noise
  • Provides regulatory oversight of the Air Navigation (Aircraft Noise) Regulations 1984 as they apply to aircraft which do not meet Australian aircraft noise standards
Airservices Australia
  • Provides Air Traffic Control (ATC) services
  • Manages and maintains aircraft navigation, surveillance, and noise monitoring infrastructure
  • Establishes flight paths at Perth Airport
  • Manages noise complaints and enquiries through the Noise Complaints and Information Service
  • Provides information on aircraft movements, runway and flight path usage and noise impacts using a range of noise descriptors
  • Conducts noise monitoring in communities surrounding Perth Airport
  • Reviews and endorses the Perth Airport ANEF for technical accuracy
Airlines and aircraft operators
  • Operate and maintain aircraft that meet the ICAO noise certification requirements
  • Implement noise abatement procedures principles for flight operations
Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO)
  • Oversees the handling of aircraft noise enquiries and complaints by Airservices
  • Conducts independent reviews of noise complaint handling
  • Makes recommendations for improvements and changes where necessary and feasible
State and Local Government
  • State Government develop land use planning frameworks to prevent developments that are inappropriate having regard to aircraft noise
  • Local Governments implement State Government land use planning frameworks
Perth Airport
  • Manages operations at the airport
  • Develops and maintains infrastructure to support aircraft operations
  • Publishes a Master Plan with associated ANEF at least every five years
  • Develops a management plan for managing aircraft noise intrusion in areas forecast to be subject to exposure above significant ANEF levels
  • Applies an engine ground run management plan
  • Engages with the Perth Airport Community Forum (PACF), previously the Perth Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG), the Planning Coordination Forum and the Perth Airport Aircraft Noise Technical Working Group and broader community
Perth Airport Community Forum (PACF)
    • The Perth Airport Community Forum (PACF), previously referred to as the Perth Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG), works collaboratively to recognise and enhance:
  • the long-term sustainability and growth of Perth Airport
  • Perth Airport’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen within the local and broader
    community, and
  • Perth Airport’s role as a major economic contributor for Western Australia
Planning Coordination Forum (PCF)
  • Supports effective engagement between Perth Airport and Government agencies on strategic planning issues, including land use and aircraft noise impacts
Perth Airport Technical Noise Working Group
  • Enables industry to initiate and evaluate operational changes while ensuring that the noise impact of those changes is considered and opportunities to improve noise outcomes are explored
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What are Perth Airport and industry doing to manage the impacts of aircraft noise?

Perth Airport has adopted the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) recommended ‘balanced approach’ to aircraft noise management for managing noise in the vicinity of the airport.  The balanced approach consists of identifying the noise issue at an airport and then analysing the various measures available to reduce noise.  The four principal elements of the ICAO balanced approach are:

  • reduction of noise at source,
  • land use planning and management,
  • noise abatement operational procedures, and
  • operating restrictions.

In collaboration with Airservices Australia, airlines, and other key stakeholders Perth Airport is developing a new comprehensive Aircraft Noise Management Strategy (ANMS) and action plan.  The new ANMS builds on the ICAO balanced approach to aircraft noise management.  In addition to a clear objective, the new plan is based on six key themes:

  • identifying opportunities for improvement,
  • community engagement,
  • working with industry to achieve better outcomes,
  • land use planning,
  • continuous improvement, and
  • new runway planning.

The themes establish the framework for the action plan which will outline individual actions and priorities for managing, and where possible, reducing aircraft noise as well as methods for monitoring and communicating performance.

Airservices has released their Commitment to Aircraft Noise Management document that outlines how Airservices intends to collaboratively address the impact of aircraft noise.

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How does Perth Airport work with the community to manage aircraft noise?

Perth Airport believes a key component of effective aircraft noise management is communication and community engagement.

Currently, there are several forums that provide the opportunity for community representatives to engage with Perth Airport.

We actively participate in the Perth Airports’ Municipalities Group (PAMG) which includes all Local Government authorities whose communities have an interest in the Airport.  The PAMG has proven to be an important means of engagement with local communities for over 30 years.

The Perth Airport Community Forum (PACF, formerly Community Aviation Consultation Group) works collaboratively to recognise and enhance:

  • the long-term sustainability and growth of Perth Airport,
  • our reputation as a responsible corporate citizen within the local and broader community, and
  • our role as a major economic contributor for Western Australia.

The Planning Coordination Forum (PCF) is a mechanism to foster high-level strategic discussions between the airport, the Commonwealth, State and Local Government representatives to promote better planning outcomes in relation to development of the airport in the context of the broader urban setting.

The Perth Aircraft Technical Noise & Environment Working Group (PANTWG), formerly the Perth Airport Aircraft Noise Management Consultative Committee, contributes to the successful management of the impact of aircraft noise.

The Airport Consultative Environment & Sustainability Group (ACES) brings together the major tenants on the Perth Airport estate and Government and environmental groups to inform and discuss relevant updates on development projects.

In addition to Perth Airport’s regular and ongoing engagement with communities through their elected representatives and other forums, Perth Airport reviews their Master Plan every five years which includes consultation with communities. For further information click here.

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How has the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) changed?

The Airports Act 1996 requires Perth Airport to review the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) in association with the Master Plan review every 5 years.  ANEF noise contours can change between Master Plans as inputs to the modelling process, such as the aircraft mix and the distribution of aircraft movements by runway, flight path and time of day, are updated to reflect new information.

Since the 1984 Master Plan, ANEF noise contours have been produced for Perth Airport which include provision for the development of a new runway.

The interactive display below illustrates the evolution of the Perth Airport ANEF since the 1984 Master Plan. In addition, you can also learn how the current composite ANEF was developed from two Australian Noise Exposure Concepts (ANECs).

For background information on ANEF or ANEC noise contours click here.