Photo caption: A re-elected Coalition Government will provide $3 million to Armidale Regional Council to install a satellite aircraft landing technology and Armidale Regional Airport to dramatically improve passenger flight reliability, Armidale Regional Council’s Chief Officer Corporate and Community Darren Schaefer, left, Mayor Sam Coupland, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Armidale Airport Service Customer Service Officer Miranda Pulkkinen, Armidale Airport Service Operations Manager Sam Smith and Airport Reporting Officer Will Robinson.
Thursday, 16 March 2023
FEWER flight diversions, delays and cancellations are on the cards for the region’s air travellers if the government is re-elected at next week’s State Election, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announcing a $3 million commitment to install a satellite landing system at Armidale Regional Airport to dramatically improve passenger flight reliability.
Mr Marshall said the landing system would help aircraft land safely and securely at times of bad weather and poor visibility.
“Armidale is the highest commercial regular passenger service airport in Australia and this brings all manner of weather-related complications, especially in winter,” Mr marshall said.
“On average, close to 100 flights from all airlines are either diverted, delayed or cancelled altogether due to poor visibility at the airport, which currently has no landing system to assist aircraft pilots.
“Delays and cancellations are extremely disruptive and frustrating for passengers getting to and from their destination – and it has implications for the local economy.
“This new satellite technology, harnessed for a landing system, would dramatically reduce the number of flights impacted, by an estimated 70 per cent.
“Technology for Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) is just around the corner and will require locally based ground equipment to be installed.
“This funding would be used by Armidale Regional Council for the purchase and configuration of the ground-based equipment with the aim to reduce flight delays and cancellations.”
Armidale Regional Airport supports a wide range of aircraft operations including Qantaslink, Regional Express and Link Airways passenger services to Sydney and Brisbane.
“Investing in technology for landing systems has long been a part of Armidale Regional Council’s Airport Master Plan and I’m pleased to pledge this funding for council to improve the airport’s reliability for the whole region,” Mr Marshall said.
“This announcement follows recent recommendations for SBAS which have been made by experts in the aviation industry.”
The system is set to be introduce at Armidale Regional Airport in 2025.
Key players involved in the delivery and deployment of the system include Geoscience Australia, Lockheed Martin and Air Services Australia.