Alarger Qantas aircraft is set to touch down at the Mount Gambier Regional Airport in February next year.
QantasLink has advised its intention to transition from the Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 aircraft, currently in use, to the larger Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 aircraft.
Grant District Council Airport manager Nick Serle updated elected members of QantasLink’s intentions when council met for its October monthly meeting.
Key differences between the Q300 and Q400 aircrafts include the size, weight and seating capacity.
The seating capacity of the Q400 is 74, compared to the Q300 which accommodates for 50 passengers.
The Q400 weighs in at 29,346 kg (Q300 – 19,595 kg), with a wingspan of 28.42m and is 32.83m in length.
Mr Serle said works will be required at the airport to accommodate the larger aircraft.
“Council have received $150,000 of grant funding from the SA Support Regional Aviation Program for works required to accommodate Q400 aircraft,” he said.
“Council approved $265,000 in the current budget, which along with the $150,000 grant funding creates a total of $415,000 for works required.
“The $415,000 will be sufficient to carry out the works required between taxiway B and the regular public transport apron and taxiway B and the main runway to accommodate the use of Q400 aircraft at Mount Gambier Regional Airport.”
Mr Serle said there was now an opportunity to apply for further funding from the Federal Government Round 4 of the Regional Airports Program.
“The intention is to apply for matching funding for the $415,000 to create a total of $830,000 to be used to complete the works and commence works to allow Q400 operations on taxiway C which is currently limited to aircraft less than 5700kg,” he said.
“The upgrade of taxiway C will improve the efficiency of Mount Gambier Regional Airport by removing the requirement for aircraft larger than the SAAB 340 to backtrack the full length of runway 18 to use taxiway B.
“We do need council endorsement for application funding.”
The recommendation to approve council’s chief executive Darryl Whicker progress the grant application received the full support of elected members present at the meeting.
