GUEST SPEAKER - TERRY O'SULLIVAN

 

Our Guest Speaker, Terry O'Sullivan was introduced by John Harris. Terry is Airport Service Manager at Warrnambool Regional Airport. From Terry we learned that Warrnambool Regional Airport is owned and operated by the Warrnambool City Council and is located in Moyne Shire. It is operated as a "Security Controlled" airport and operates 24/7. Currently it has 16 hangars, with around 30 aircraft housed on site, with a mixture of business and recreational users. Personnel working on the site need to be a Trained Airport Reporting Officer and a Works Safety Officer. 

History:

  • The first airfield was at the racecourse. Basil Watson landed there when he made the historic first flight on 23 January 1917. The 267km flight from Brighton took one hour and 55 minutes. 
  • By 13 February 1930 preparations were underway for the construction of Warrnambool's Airport on a property adjoining the Woodford Road.
  • In 1934 SAVIC (South Australia - Victoria) Air Transport Ltd decided to include Warrnambool in its service to and from Melbourne and Adelaide. 
  • Records indicate more land was acquired by the Federal Government in the 1940's / WW2. Gravel runways were constructed.
  • In 1959 the Airport ownership was transferred to the City of Warrnambool and Shire of Warrnambool. 
  • The old terminal building was demolished in 2008 and a new facility constructed at a cost of $580,000 - completed 2009.
  • An Ambulance Victoria Helicopter became operational on July 1, 2009.
  • Records show 2011-2012 aircraft arrivals were averaging 16 daily. 

Challenges:

  • Maintaining existing runway pavement.
  • Funding to increase apron area and upgrade taxiway to reduce congestion/improve traffic flow along with extra aircraft parking area.
  • Funding to strengthen and lengthen existing sealed runway and install new runway edge lighting system to cater for larger aircraft.
  • Funding to purchase land at 22 Sims Road & Parkinsons Lane.
  • Obstacle control, wind farms, trees, and communications towers in the region.
  • Need for stand alone drag racing facility.

Works in progress:

  • Aviation Business Park (new hangar precinct) taxiways, access roads, drainage, electricity, sewer and fire service.
  • Upgrading the grass runway to all weather capabilities.
  • Developed RNAV GNSS approach for Runway 13 late 2014.
  • Bureau of Meteorology, at its expense, installed Ceilometer & Visibility Meter in February 2015 and upgraded Warrnambool to a 24 Terminal Area Forecast Service. 
  • Installation of Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lighting pending.