Source: Radio New Zealand
A judicial review is underway against Airways, the Director of Civil Aviation and Wellington Airport. 123RF
A judicial review is underway at the High Court in Wellington as residents from some northern suburbs challenge a flight path change which they say is unlawful.
A change to flight paths in December 2022 meant fewer departures over Newlands and more over Khandallah and Broadmeadows.
The changes were part of a system called the Divergent Missed Approach Protection System (DMAPS) which were introduced by Airways, New Zealand’s air navigation service provider, and approved by Wellington Airport.
Community group Plane Sense believes the implementation process wasn’t lawful or transparent, and that it didn’t properly consider community health, safety and well-being in the local environment.
Its brought a judicial review against Airways, the Director of Civil Aviation and Wellington Airport.
Committee member Roxy Steel said Plane Sense were asking the court to declare the DMAPS flight path invalid and reinstate the previous departure procedure.
“We’ve got community members who are telling us it’s impacting their sleep, impacting their children,” she said. “We’ve got residents who chose to live in these suburbs due to existing health conditions and this noise is impacting their recovery and their way of living at the moment.”
The group said it wasn’t initially consulted on and were taken by surprise by the changes. Consultation was later undertaken.
“The standard instrument departure tracks for jet aircraft had been in operation for approximately 60 years and residents chose where to live based on that status quo.
The residents in Khandallah, Johnsonville and Broadmeadows were taken by surprise by a radical DMAPS concept which in effect changed the north/south runway vector with adverse effects on their safety, health and wellbeing.
This took place without notice or consultation. Unlike its previous course, the new flight path crosses suburbs located within the Wellington Airport noise abatement area which has been in Civil Aviation Rule Part 93 since 1997,” it said.
The group said jets flew lower over terrain than under the previous procedures, significantly amplifying noise.
According to research from Sapere Research Group homes under the DMAPS flight path were also estimated to have have lost between $20,000 – $28,000 on average, with total property value losses across the affected suburbs estimated to be between $248 million and $453 million.
What is the DMAPS system?
The system introduced a greater separation between departure aircraft flight paths, and arrival go-around/missed approach flight paths when the initial approach to land was abandoned for safety reasons.
“DMAPS is designed to increase safety at Wellington Airport and was implemented after a number of incidents related to missed approaches (which occur when an arrival aircraft is unable to complete its landing),” said Airways GM of People and Partnerships Jamie Gray.
“DMAPS ensures that flight paths followed by departure aircraft diverge from the flight path followed by missed approach aircraft, separating both aircraft by default,” he said.
He said in the time since DMAPS was introduced in 2022, the number of missed approach safety reports at Wellington Airport has reduced significantly, from 27 in 2019 to only five in total over the last three years.
“All safety reports have been investigated and none are directly attributable to DMAPS,” he said.
Safety a priority, status quo most popular option in consultation
Gray said Airways’ role to provide air traffic services was centred on its obligation to ensure the safety and efficiency of air navigation and the air traffic network.
DMAPS is designed in accordance with the Civil Aviation Rules and applicable ICAO standards. It is compliant with these rules and standards.
“In that judicial review, Plane Sense has made a number of statements regarding the safety of the flight paths over Wellington, in particular regarding the Divergent Missed Approach System,” he said. “Airways will fully defend itself against Plane Sense’s allegations.”
“On the issue of safety, Airways wants to reassure the public that DMAPS is and always has been safe.”
Wellington Airport said it supported DMAPS because it was safer, more efficient and was the most popular option from its voluntary public consultation.
“It has reduced delays, travel times and costs, lowered emissions, and affects the fewest number of people with noise,” it said.
It said of the four options publicly consulted on in 2024, the status quo was the most popular choice at nearly 50 percent, more than twice the level of other options.
“We understand this was disappointing for some people. However, the unavoidable challenge for a city like Wellington with an airport relatively close to the CBD is that aircraft must fly over residential areas at times, no matter which flight path option is preferred.”
A CAA spokesperson said flights have historically flown over the northern suburbs, but the changes made three years ago did make small, but noticeable, differences in noise on the ground from some outbound flights.
“While the changes complied with the Wellington noise abatement rules and have also secured environmental improvements, any such change can be worrying. That’s why we’ve worked to reassure Plane Sense and its members that the changes are safe,” the spokesperson said.
“We offered to discuss possible changes to noise control rules and encouraged Plane Sense to take part in the consultation run by Wellington Airport in late 2024. We understand that Plane Sense chose not to take part in these engagement opportunities.”
The spokesperson said it respected the right of community groups like Plane Sense to raise their concerns and had shared a lot of information with them.
“We’ve been talking with Plane Sense for over two years, and we continue to be open to engaging with them.”
The spokesperson said safety is, and always would be, its top priority.
“The flight paths have been operating safely since December 2022. We will continue our focus on maintaining and improving the safe and secure aviation system that benefits everyone in the community, in flight and on the ground.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand