Thread by @BFPCA_

#60ProtestReasons: 22 – Drones & Air Taxis
@CatherineKingMP is pushing drones & air taxis. The Australian Government, through its National Emerging Aviation Technologies Policy Statement, supports the adoption of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-r…

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority @CASABriefing is already actively involved in supporting the roll-out of AAM and has signed an MoU to foster growth in the sector. Although air taxis are not yet operational in Australia, preparations are underway.

casa.gov.au/advanced-air-m…

The SEQ Council of Mayors @SEQMayors has signed an MoU w @WiskAero to bring autonomous flying taxis to the region by the 2032 #Olympics. The proposal has drawn criticism as it has been drafted without any community engagement in order to ...
theguardian.com/australia-news…

... obtain a social licence to operate, ignores noise pollution, & prioritises the wealthy whilst failing to address everyday transportation needs.
The Brazilian company @embraer-X is also planning to bring air taxis to #Melbourne by 2026 in partnership w @AirservicesNews.

Electric aviation – including hydrogen flights by won’t be introduced on long-haul flights anytime soon but may be viable for short routes, resulting in more noisy planes in the sky servicing NEW routes that were not viable previously. Think: @BrisbaneAirport to Gold Coast, or...

... even Archerfield to Toowoomba. The new Archerfield Airport Master Plan states that their priorities to the year 2030 are to encourage new aviation developments, including air taxis, freight, Advanced Air Mobility & emerging tech, corporate aircraft + charter (private jets).

While air taxis are yet to arrive, drone delivery services are already here. @Wing, a subsidiary of @AlphabetINC (@Google’s parent company), aims to develop a drone delivery-network tech capable of handling millions of orders within a year. The company is testing ...

... the technology at scale in #Logan, Australia, where it delivers up to 1,000 packages daily. Despite the Logan test site causing a huge spike in noise complaints due to the concentrated flight paths over residential areas, @Wing is aggressively expanding across SEQ ...

... & have started operating in #Ipswich + at the #GoldCoast. These delivery drones travel at up to 100km/h & will add to the noise pollution at even lower altitudes w a high pitch buzzing mosquito noise profile.
abc.net.au/news/2019-11-2…

Furthermore, privatising the sky and granting control to companies like Wing raises questions about safety, public space and regulation.
abc.net.au/news/2022-09-3…
theconversation.com/privatising-th…

Residents say drone deliveries are driving them mad | @ACurrentAffair9 @9NewsQueensland

.@CatherineKingMP @SEQMayors & the execs all put their heads in the sand when it comes to responding to noise pollution concerns. We thus ask everyone to email them today & remind them of their obligation to first obtain a social licence to operate: bfpca.org.au/drone-complain

Do you want to know more?

BFPCA has compiled a detailed submission on drones and air taxis to the Australian Government: bfpca.org.au/drones/ as well as extensive news media coverage: bfpca.org.au/22-drones-air-…

Register for the protest: bfpca.org.au/protest/

All protest reasons on one page: bfpca.org.au/60reasons/

🧵 cc @SchipholWatch @uecna_eu @East_Melb_Group @Rawsa7 @NobcaA @NoBCA2 @GuardianAus @crikey_news @Climate4Runway3 @AG_Luftverkehr @BAW_Fluglaerm @4corners