The fatal light aircraft crash which left five people dead has prompted fresh calls for Melbourne’s Essendon Airport to be closed.
Essendon Airport was the city’s first international airport in 1950, however the opening of Tullamarine in 1970 forced it to become focused on general aviation and charter flights.
The airport is currently owned by the Commonwealth, but since 2001 has been leased to a consortium backed by Linfox, which has sought to develop the site as a commercial hub.
“There’s been a tension between that and the need to keep airports all about aviation. Because there’s less money in aviation than there is in commercial retail and property development,” Aviation Lawyer Joe Wheeler said.
Mr Wheeler also questioned so many new developments being built close to the airport runways.
“The existence of these buildings in areas that should be ideally kept clear for emergencies, such as this or others, is not the ideal thing for aviation safety.”
Almost 54,000 take-offs were recorded at the airport last year, with more than 31,000 involving aircraft under seven tonnes.
The most serious accident to date at the airport occurred in 1978, when a plane crashed into houses at Airport West shortly after take-off.
Six people, all members of the one family, died.
In 1993, 10 people were injured when a de Havilland Dove aircraft came down on Gilberstson street, location 3 kilometres from the airspace.
“There have been quite a few incidents here, their flight place is right over my place, so a bit scary,” resident John Kelm said.
The Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft which crashed into DFO shopping center this morning had recently cleared a safety check by officials at Essendon Airport.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the airport was an “important asset” for the state.
“There’ll be some people who want a discussion and a debate about how suitable Essendon airport is,” Mr Andrews said during a press conference today.
“I think the best thing to do is to allow those processes to run their course, let’s get the facts.”
The Federal government is currently seeking feedback on plans to reform the airports act.
– 9News Australia
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