Aircraft will be flying about 150 metres lower over Hobsons Bay under a plan to use new technology to guide planes into Melbourne Airport.
Australia’s air navigation service provider, Airservices Australia, is seeking approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to allow aircraft to fly between 500 feet and 2000 feet from Altona South to Station Pier at Port Melbourne.
Aircraft currently fly between 500 feet and 2500 feet over this area.
Airservices Australia says on its website there will be no noticeable difference in noise.
“The airspace changes are required to meet new regulations to safely manage incoming flights on approach to Melbourne Airport,” it says.
“The change requires aircraft to fly slightly lower (500 feet) during a small section of their final approach. Environmental assessments indicate there will be no discernible increase in aircraft noise on the ground.”
It says there will be no changes to flight paths, but that more light aircraft may fly at lower altitudes.
“In 2017, 12 per cent of the total number of light aircraft that fly along this route are between 2000 feet and 2500 feet, therefore residents may notice that some of these aircraft will be flying lower as a result of the airspace change,” it says.
The changes to airspace around Melbourne Airport are expected to be introduced on November 8.
