A PORT Macquarie resident, distressed by aircraft noise, has called for changes to a training circuit.
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Robin Voight bought a house expecting to live in a quiet neighbourhood at Innes Peninsula but the aircraft noise changed all that.
Ms Voight believes most of the noise is due to international pilot training.
Port Macquarie-based Arena International Aviation confirmed last year 150 pilot cadets a year from China will train under its guidance in a step towards becoming pilots with Hainan Airlines.
"The pilots will be training for their commercial pilots' licence which requires 150 flying hours each," Ms Voight said.
"Do the basic maths ...150 pilots by 150 flying hours and that equates to at least 22,500 hours of noise a year over the roofs of our houses.
"Currently they are permitted to do this 15 hours a day from 7am until 10pm during the week, a little less on weekends."
Arena International Aviation declined to comment.
Kempsey Shire Council and Arena International Aviation are in discussions about using Kempsey Airport as part of the international pilot training program.
Ms Voight said Port Macquarie-Hastings Council owned the airport here and training had been allowed to take place over the most densely populated areas of Port Macquarie and it was set to increase.
Council's acting group manager commercial and business services Ashley Grummitt said pilot training and circuit operations at Port Macquarie Airport were conducted in accordance with CASA regulations and standard practice. Ms Voight expressed concerns about the current expanded operations at the airport, regarding the noise impact on residents in a densely populated area, the safety of those below and the impact on house values.
She said the number of aircraft training above the area had increased dramatically since April, with up to five or six aircraft operating in the circuit at any one time. Ms Voight has sought information from CASA, the council, Airservices Australia, Lyne MP David Gillespie and Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams.
She encourages people to lodge submissions in response to the CASA draft aeronautical study of Port Macquarie.