There are claims that planes are being deliberately flown at low altitudes over Penrith in an effort to desensitise local residents to aircraft noise from the Western Sydney International Airport, which will open in 2026.
According to The Daily Telegraph, new data has revealed the number of commercial domestic and international planes flying at altitudes below 14,000 feet have almost doubled in the past two years.
Airservices Australia aircraft data confirms a total of 352 flights were recorded at altitudes below 14,000 feet across Penrith and the Blue Mountains in July 2022.
That figure rose to 648 throughout the month of July this year.
According to the Telegraph, 162 commercial aircraft were recorded as flying over Penrith – more than 60km away from Sydney Airport – at 12,000 feet, while a further 61 domestic and international flights were clocked over the western Sydney community at just 10,000 feet.
Airservices Australia told the Telegraph altitudes are based on operational requirements.
“Airservices reports there have been no altitude or flight path changes in Western Sydney over the past two years,” a spokesman said.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “When you see the data and can see and hear it first hand in the early hours of the morning and late at night, all while knowing the airport is set to open in less than two years, it is hard not to connect these two growing issues.”
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