(1)   Has he read the media release by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA) titled “General Aviation”, dated 8 August 2006.

(2)   What steps is he taking to ensure that Bankstown Airport is maintained as a viable training airport for pilots; if no steps are being taken, why not.

(3)   Can he confirm that management at Bankstown Airport wants heavy freight and regional aircraft services at Bankstown Airport.

(4)   What environmental impact will this change of use from general aviation, including small training aircraft, to heavy four-engined aircraft and jets operating round the clock, have on adjoining residents in terms of aircraft noise.

(5)   What economic impact, including pax and cargo aircraft movements, will this envisaged change of use at Bankstown Airport have on operations at Sydney Airport.

(6)   Has he been advised on the future use of Sydney Airport and its relationship with Bankstown Airport in respect of Bankstown being used as an ‘overflow airport’ for Sydney Airport.

(7)   Does the term ‘overflow airport’ mean the use of Bankstown Airport for propeller and jet freight, and passenger aircraft for freight and regional aircraft usage.

(8)   What is his department’s estimation of propeller flights per year at Sydney Airport and Bankstown airport.

(9)   Does he have data on the number of flights that will be moved from Sydney to Bankstown Airport over the next (a) five, (b) ten and (c) 20 years, due to the new use of Bankstown Airport as an ‘overflow airport’; if so, what are those data.

(1)   Yes.

(2)   The Australian Government has put in place, through the airport lease and regulatory requirements, a regime to ensure the continued availability of Bankstown Airport as the major general aviation airport for the Sydney region. Bankstown Airport’s Master Plan forecasts that around 84.1 per cent of aircraft movements over the next 20 years will be by typical general aviation aircraft, a significant proportion of which will be pilot training activity.

(3)   While this is primarily a commercial matter for BAL, the approved Bankstown Airport Master Plan forecasts the introduction of niche passenger services and continuing parcel freight operations. This is publicly available on the Bankstown Airport Limited website: http://www.bankstownairport.com.au. Heavy freight can only be carried through Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport because of capacity restrictions at the Bankstown Airport.

(4)   Aircraft noise over the next twenty years, including passenger and freight aircraft, is forecast in the approved Master Plan. The Master Plan is publicly available on the Bankstown Airport Limited website: http://www.bankstownairport.com.au.

(5)   The Bankstown Airport Master Plan sets out the differing commercial markets served by Sydney Airport and Bankstown Airport.

(6)   No. The use of Bankstown Airport as an ‘overflow airport’ for Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport is not being considered. The operation of Bankstown Airport as an ‘overflow’ airport is not part of its approved Master Plan, nor is it proposed by BAL.

(7)   See (6) above.

(8)   Airservices Australia has provided the following statistics: Below are statistics of arrivals, departures and circuit flights for Bankstown Airport for the years 2000 to 2005 inclusive: They have been classified by engine size: Aircraft: Piston Engine Propeller Driven

Year	Arrivals	Departures	Circuits	Total
2000	38758	5233	152276	196267
2001	42181	12174	181730	236085
2002	41398	13260	191388	246046
2003	34503	10662	156022	201187
2004	33472	11537	112884	157893
2005	35480	11102	137364	183946

Aircraft: Turbo-Prop Propeller Driven

   Below are statistics for Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport for the years 2002 to date. They have been classified by engine size:

Aircraft: Piston Engine Propeller Driven

Aircraft: Turbo-Prop Propeller Driven

(9)   No. See (6) above.