A public consultation session held this week over displacing the threshold of runway 12 at Canberra has failed to quell fears for the future of GA operations at the airport.
Runway 12/30 crosses the main 17/35 and services smaller aircraft from Dash-8s downward. The change to the threshold will shorten the Landing Distance Available (LDA) by 360 m from 1679 m to 1319 m. Take-off Distance Available (TODA) will not change and there will be no changes to runway 30.
Capital Airport Group (CAG), which operates Canberra, called GA operators to a final consultation on Wednesday night, saying the meeting would provide important information for aerodrome users, but the discussion only raised fears that the airport operator was prioritising non-aviation development over the needs of the aviation industry.
Changes to the threshold were flagged in the 2020 airport master plan, which stated that "the landing point for Runway 12 arrival will be moved by displacing the threshold up to 450 m east of the existing threshold. This will mean aircraft on arrival to the displaced threshold will be higher over the new Majura Parkway and the now duplicated Majura Road."
However, stakeholders who attended the meeting have indicated they believe the real reason is that buildings slated to be developed at the Majura Park mixed-use precinct abeam the current threshold can't meet standards when it comes to creating turbulence, so the landing point needs to be moved to allow for the development.
Stakeholders also said that CAG grossly understated the movement figures on runway 12/30, which were stated as only 1-2 movements per day.
However, CAG Director of Planning and Government Relations Noel McCann told Australian Flying that the threshold was to be displaced to create additional height over obstacles and terrain on approach and was not due to wind turbulence modeling.
"The reasoning behind displacing the threshold is based on both safety and efficiency," he said. "The displacement will achieve additional height over obstacles and terrain on the approach path and increase aircraft separation over the new Majura Parkway and the now duplicated Majura Road.
"To accomplish this a thorough assessment of runway use and ground movements associated with Runway 12/30 was undertaken.
"In addition, Airservices was asked to consider any impacts for aircraft on approach to Runway 12 and provide a historical record of aircraft movements. Airservices records show that Runway 12 has been used on average less than once a day for the past four years.
"The data also shows that the only aircraft that use Runway 12 for landing are light GA aircraft less than 5700 kg. With no published approaches and low runway use, Airservices have indicated no operational or safety concerns in the displacement of the Runway 12 landing threshold.
"Canberra Airport has also consulted with CASA and received approval for the change."
CAG was keen to point out that the threshold of 12 was being displaced, which does not mean the runway was being physically shortened.
Work on the runway is scheduled to begin on 7 November.