Ombudsman investigates plane noise

[NickN]

AN ombudsman will be appointed to investigate aircraft noise problems, which are set to rise in inner Sydney as air traffic increases.
And airlines have been asked to appoint their own ombudsman to deal with the growing number of complaints about the services of low-cost operators.

The pledges to deal with community and consumer complaints were contained in the first ever national aviation policy paper released yesterday by the Federal Government. The official aviation organisation Airservices Australia will establish the aircraft noise ombudsman to review issues raised by the public about complaint handling procedures and to recommend improvements.

"For our capital city airports in particular, the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding communities is an issue which has created increasing concern," Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said.


The Government wants the industry to provide an ombudsman to take up complaints about the budget operators, particularly the issue of ticket refunds after over-booking of flights and late changes to schedules.

Mr Albanese confirmed yesterday's report by The Daily Telegraph that bans on certain items in hand luggage would be relaxed to bring Australian requirements into line with major aviation partners such as the US. Items such as nail clippers and knitting needles will no longer be confiscated at airport security barriers, although bans will still apply to such items as axes, darts, ice skates, letter openers and meat cleavers.

"It is a fact that somewhere in Australia there is a building full of nail clippers," joked Mr Albanese.

He also confirmed that Badgerys Creek would be taken off the list of potential sites for a second Sydney airport and developed as an economic hub for western Sydney.

A federal, state and industry committee would review sites for a second airport and Mr Albanese said he expected it to be within the city basin.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1225811145248