NAP 4.2: Preferred Flight Paths – Departures
This NAP lists the preferred departure flight paths to be used by different aircraft throughout the day.
Aircraft generally depart under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Brisbane Airport via either a Procedural Standard Instrument Departure (SID) or a Radar SID:
- A procedural SID is a published route aircraft use to safely travel through the busy airspace surrounding airports. Aircraft follow this route from departure to where they transition to the enroute (high-level airspace) phase of their flight. Procedural SIDs act like a road, providing an established path for aircraft to track along. They make separation from other aircraft easier and air traffic control more predictable.
- A radar SID is a type of departure where Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructs the pilot to travel towards an assigned compass heading (i.e. a direction) once they reach a nominated height. The compass heading depends on the direction of travel but is also used to safely separate aircraft in the same vicinity. The use of Radar SIDs means aircraft are directed individually by ATC over a wide area. This means more residences may be overflown and with less predictability than if procedural SIDs were in use.
It is important to note that jet aircraft may be cleared via a radar SID when required for weather, traffic management, or when a pilot cannot accept a procedural SID. When this occurs, aircraft will be directed as closely as possible to comply with the applicable day or night operations NAP.
4.2.1 Aircraft departing on Runways 19L/R (departing over the Brisbane population):
4.2.1 a: Jet aircraft will normally be assigned a procedural SID. This NAP focuses on whether a procedural SID has been assigned; however, the report provides the percentage of flights that have adhered to flying within a corridor extending 1852m on either side of the centreline.
4.2.1 b: Non-jet aircraft will normally be assigned a radar SID. Data not available.
4.2.1 c: Non-jet aircraft turn left to establish over water to 5000ft from 10pm to 6am local time. Reported below.
4.2.2 Aircraft departing on Runways 01L/R (departing over the waters of Moreton Bay):
4.2.2 a: Jet aircraft will normally be assigned a procedural SID. This NAP focuses on whether a procedural SID has been assigned; however, the report provides the percentage of flights that have adhered to flying within a corridor extending 1852m on either side of the centreline.
4.2.2 b: Non-jet aircraft will normally be assigned a radar SID. Data not available.
4.2.2 c: Between 10pm-6am local, all aircraft will be contained over water until above 5000ft (1524m). Reported below.
The report below provides the percentage of flights that adhered to departure flight path conditions under the NAP.
This report was updated on 6 November 2025 to display daily data from midnight to 11:59pm for 4.2.2.c, providing a complete view of full-day activity. Previously, it presented 24-hour data based on a 6am to 6am cycle.
The report is best viewed in full screen mode. For instructions on how to use this tool, select the Help button.
