Defence Aircraft Noise

RAAF Base Darwin

Noise Mitigation

Air Force has an honest and open approach about the noise experienced by residents living near RAAF Base Darwin or in the Darwin Region.

Air Force’s Aircraft Noise Management Strategy outlines how Air Force is working with local communities

Air Force commits to undertake flying operations in a manner which is considerate of our local communities, whilst maintaining the safe operation of the aircraft. More information can be found in the RAAF Darwin Base Noise Management Plan.

Air Force Fly Neighbourly Policy for minimising aircraft noise. The principles of this policy are:

• using appropriate runway length for departures to maximise height over local communities;
• minimising the use of afterburner on fast jets during takeoff and climbing to altitude as quickly as possible;
• limiting the speed of aircraft over populated areas;
• minimising flight over residential areas and other noise sensitive buildings such as hospitals and schools;
• avoiding low flying over populated areas and known noise sensitive areas;
• minimising flying late at night or early in the morning;
• conducting aircraft noise awareness in pilot training and familiarisation; and
• notifying local communities of major exercises or other non-routine training and flying activities such as flying displays.

Flying is minimised late at night, however military aircraft may take off and land at any time.

Where possible, major exercises and training activities will also be highlighted on the Air Force webpage.

Initial and Pitch

When formations of jets return to RAAF Base Darwin, they will conduct an initial and pitch recovery procedure as part of their normal recovery. This procedure enables large numbers of military fast jet aircraft to be recovered in the minimum time, thus reducing their noise impact. At Darwin this procedure has been increased to 2000 feet above ground level in order to further reduce noise for local residents.

As a joint user facility, noise management is controlled by aircraft noise abatement procedures and noise monitoring by Darwin International Airport.

In addition, Defence noise monitoring includes the use of a Noise and Flight Path Monitoring System (NFPMS) to monitor military aircraft noise. This system is installed temporarily at Darwin to monitor aircraft noise when required. The NFPMS provides information about aircraft noise for the public in a format that is easy to read and understand.

Airservices Australia provides information on noise monitoring for Darwin International Airport.

Noise Monitoring

As a joint user facility, noise management is controlled by aircraft noise abatement procedures and noise monitoring by Darwin International Airport. In addition, Defence noise monitoring includes the use of a Noise and Flight Path

Monitoring System (NFPMS) to monitor military aircraft noise. This system is installed temporarily at Darwin to monitor aircraft noise when required. The NFPMS provides information about aircraft noise for the public in a format that is easy to read and understand.

Airservices Australia provides information on noise monitoring for Darwin International Airport.