The Forum on Western Sydney Airport (FOWSA) has listed the impacts of Badgerys Creek on general aviation as a matter for examination.
FOWSA, which comprises 22 aviation interest groups and individuals, first met in Sydney on 26 May. The forum was created by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport as a communication and feedback channel to the aviation community and general public.
At the first meeting, members were asked to list issues that needed to be looked at, one of which was minuted as "examining the impacts of airport operations on flying schools operating out of Bankstown and Camden airports and on existing general aviation flight training areas."
Badgerys Creek is to be located right in the heart of the current Bankstown training area, raising concerns that general aviation training will be severely restricted.
Mike Higgins, CEO of the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) is a member of FOWSA, and told Australian Flying that the message got across to all forum members.
"They understand that it's an important issue and the impact of Bankstown and Camden is significant," he said. "The requirement for an adequately-sized training area is significant for around 18 flight training organisations and hundreds of students."
Forum members also flagged several other issues as significant including economic growth, flight paths, environmental impacts and infrastructure and the special environmental status of the Blue Mountains.
FOWSA will meet again on 29 August.