RAAF Base Williamtown: Flight Movements

Mr Baldwin asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 29 October 2009:

1. As at 29 October 2009, on average, how many flight movements by (a) F/A-18 Hornet, (b) Hawk 127 and (c) other military aircraft, occur at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Williamtown between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. each calendar year.
2. Over what years will the phased introduction of the F-35 JSF occur, and when will it be fully introduced into service.
3. Will a health or environmental impact study be conducted at the RAAF Base Williamtown prior to the F-35 JSF being fully introduced into service.
4. On average, how many flight movements by (a) F/A-18 Hornet, (b) Hawk 127, (c) F-35 JSF and (d) other military aircraft, will occur at RAAF Base Williamtown between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. each calendar year during the phased introduction period of the F-35 JSF.
5. On average, how many flight movements by (a) F-35 JSF, (b) Hawk 127, and (c) other military aircraft, will occur at RAAF Base Williamtown between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. each calendar year once the F-35 JSF has been fully introduced into service.

Mr Combet - The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1. Please see table below
   

   Annual Flight Movements at RAAF Base Williamtown (by Aircraft Type)

   Aircraft Type	7:00 am – 6:00 pm 1	6:00 pm – 7:00 am 2
   F/A-18	9,054	1,506
   Hawk 127	8,156	236
   Other Military	1,262	64
   Notes: Generally scheduled to commence at 8:30 am Generally scheduled to be completed by 10:00 pm in the Winter months and by 11:00 pm in the Summer months.

2. The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) delivery schedule will be decided by Government late this year/early next year. On current planning, Defence may acquire the first JSF in 2014 and commence initial training and operational testing to achieve Initial Operational Capability by 2017 while Full Operational Capability is expected to be achieved around 2025.
3. Sinclair Knight Merz has prepared a draft Public Environment Report for Defence which provides an assessment of the potential environmental impacts from the JSF introduction.  As the JSF will be initially based at RAAF Base Williamtown, the Draft Report and an associated program of community consultations which commenced on 6 October 2009, is focussed primarily on the Port Stephens and Newcastle communities.  The Public Environment Report process will help Defence provide the Environment Minister with enough information to make an informed decision about assessment and approval processes for the JSF introduction under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Cwlth 1999.  Defence anticipates a formal environmental referral to the Environment Minister by mid 2010 and will then most likely be directed to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement process.
4. Please see table below.

   Annual Movements (by Aircraft Type) During Phased Introduction of the F-35 JSF into Service

   	TIME	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
   F/A – 18	7 am – 6 pm	3,000	1,200	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
   	6 pm – 7am	500	200	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
   Hawk 127	7 am – 6 pm	8,100	8,100	8,100	8,100	8,100	8,100	8,100	8,100	8,100
   	6 pm – 7am	240	240	240	240	240	240	240	240	240
   F-35 JSF	7 am – 6 pm	512	3,744	7,880	11,328	12,400	13,232	13,248	13,600	13,637
   	6 pm – 7am	128	936	1,970	2,832	3,050	3,308	3,312	3,400	3,409
   Pilot Training Aircraft (AIR 5428)	7 am – 6 pm	2,020	2,020	2,020	2,020	2,020	2,020	2,020	2,020	2,020
   	6 pm – 7am	360	360	360	360	360	360	360	360	360

5. Please see table below.

   Annual Movements (by Aircraft Type) Upon Full Introduction of the F-35 JSF into Service

   Aircraft Type	7:00 am – 6:00 pm	6:00 pm – 7:00 am
   F-35 JSF	13,637	3,409
   Hawk 127	8,100	240
   AIR 5428	2,020	360

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