Gold Coast Airport has welcomed the Administrative Appeals Tribunal’s (AAT) decision to affirm the approval of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport.

The decision comes more than twelve months after the Federal Government’s original approval of the ILS was handed down in January last year. The AAT process commenced after local protest groups appealed the then Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development’s (Warren Truss) decision to approve the installation.

Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Marion Charlton said despite the delay in works while the appeal process was underway, the ILS remained an important project for the Gold Coast.

“The ILS will make the airport more reliable, in turn ensuring the region is a more competitive tourist destination now and into the future,” she said.

“Gold Coast Airport is the sixth busiest airport in Australia, and the only airport in the top 12 that does not have an ILS.

“We are pleased with today’s decision and will now turn our focus to working with Airservices on the construction and installation phase of the project.”

Ms Charlton also noted that Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs) had been agreed between the parties to ensure ILS usage during fine weather conditions would be kept to a minimum.

“The development of NAPs was required for the ILS flight path and formed part of the Minister’s approval last year,” she said.

“These procedures are designed specifically to ensure impact to the community in terms of aircraft noise is kept to a minimum.”

The noise abatement procedures will ensure the use of the ILS by jet aircraft is limited to times of increased cloud coverage or reduced visibility except where operationally required or required for an emergency.

A review of the project timeline is underway to determine whether the ILS will be installed and operational in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“The introduction of the ILS forms part of Gold Coast Airport’s platform for contributing to the economic prosperity of the Gold Coast, south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales regions for decades to come,” Ms Charlton concluded.

The ILS enhances navigation for pilots during low visibility or poor weather conditions, giving pilots improved accuracy and assurance during landing.

Gold Coast Airport is owned and managed by Queensland Airports Limited which is a regional airport specialist also operating Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach Airports.