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Broome International Airport (BIA), is one of the most important regional airports in Western Australia. One of the few privately-owned commercial airports in Australia, Broome’s “gateway to the Kimberley” caters for scheduled jet, turboprop and helicopter services.

In addition, BIA is home base for three critical services in the North West – a major Royal Flying Doctor Service Base, the southern hemisphere’s largest heliport (used to service offshore oil exploration and development in Browse Basin) and a north-west coast-watch operation [check].

The airport is used by more than 400,000 passengers a year [check] underpinning the Kimberley tourism industry.

BIA and the company’s contractors employ approximately 100 staff generating almost 800 jobs in Broome and the Kimberley region.

In 2014, BIA won the National Regional Airport of the Year Award (50,000-499,999 passengers), after investing in new economic opportunities in the offshore oil and gas industry while continuing to support Broome’s traditional and unique tourism market.

11. BIA Heliports

a. Broome

A decision to build the Broome heliport has been critical to the future of BIA and the community. The heliport is the biggest and arguably the best equipped in the Southern Hemisphere, taking oil and gas rig crews to operations in the Browse Basin offshore from the Kimberley coast. The Heliport is currently transporting up to 90,000 passengers year to work on oil and gas production facilities hundreds of kilometres from the coast.

These helicopters play a vital role in the energy industries tapping some of the world’s most remote and inaccessible oilfields where the world’s first floating production storage and offtake vessels are producing oil and gas for global markets.

The heliport provides a base for a fleet of commercial helicopters carrying an average of 15 passengers at a time. It includes a complete suite of maintenance, administration and passenger service facilities. The heliport is a stand-alone facility with its own road access, parking areas, landscaping and utilities. The complex has four well-equipped hangars.

b. Djarindjin Community Airport

Broome International Airport has invested more than in Djarindjin Community Airport to extend the reach of the company’s airport service. The project is a joint venture with the Djarindjin Aboriginal Community near the tip of Dampier Peninsula 170 kilometres north of Broome.

The facility is ideally placed to serve as a refuelling and staging operating on the Kimberley coast near the Browse Basin oil and gas fields.

As part of its agreement with the Djarindjin community, BIA has trained local indigenous staff to provide support services for helicopters and twin engine turbo prop passenger aircraft. This includes support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service which uses Djarindjin as its main Dampier Peninsula Patient Transfer Station .

12. Local aviation operators

Six general aviation companies operate from Broome International Airport keeping remote communities, cattle stations, tourism outposts, mine sites, exploration areas and regional towns in touch with mainstream transport and communications.

Mostly charter operators, the general aviation services are based in Broome but fly to some of the most remote and challenging airfields in Australia. The fixed wing aircraft and helicopters have a long tradition of servicing the “outback” in locations where road transport is limited – or impossible during unfavourable weather conditions.

The charters are being used increasingly as part of the growing tourism sector in the Kimberley region

Broome Air Services

Broome Aviation

Slingair Heliwork

King Leopold Air

Skippers

Kimberley Aviation

13. Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) and Visitor Identification Card

a. Compliance

Under the Aviation Transport Security Act Regulations,must have an operational need to be airside (in the aircraft operating areas) at BIA. Anyone who requires unescorted access to these areas at BIA must comply with the requirements for background checks as per the regulations and must be wearing a valid Aviation Security Identification (ASIC) Card or Visitor Identification Card (VIC)

BIA issue AUS or BME-specific cards

Applying for a New or Renewed ASIC:

If you are qualified to apply for an ASIC card from BIA, you will need to

• Complete the ASIC APPLICATION FORM
• Read the AusCheck Privacy Notice
• Pay $260.00 (inclusive of GST) at the time of application.
• Provide your original identification documents at the time of submitting your application. (This must be sighted by BIA staff at Broome International Airport. See the application form for the forms of ID documentation that are acceptable).
• Apply in person to the Administration Office at Broome International Airport during office hours only.
• Allow up to 4 weeks to receive your ASIC from submission of your application.

b. Visitor Cards:

Changes to the Aviation Transport Security Act and Regulations will only allow the issue of a BIA VIC for a maximum of 28 days in any 12 month period.

If you do not have a valid ASIC after this time, you will be denied entry to Airside at BIA.

If you have been issued a VIC

• You must be accompanied by a valid ASIC holder at all times
• The ASIC holder will be held accountable for the VIC
• Severe penalties may apply.

Applicants for a new or renewed ASIC must attend a BIA Induction, (held every 2nd Thursday). Please contact BIA Administration for Bookings on 08 9194 0600

c. Auscheck Privacy Notice

d. Authority to Drive Airside (ADA)

No-one is permitted to drive airside at BIA, unless they hold a current ADA, valid for the area of operation and understands the regulations and restrictions which apply to driving airside in Broome.

The person must also be a holder of a current and valid ASIC card and must also hold a current motor vehicle driver’s licence valid for the vehicle they will operate

e. Applying for a new or renewal ADA card:

• Access and print an ADA Application Form
• Pay $88.00 (inclusive of GST) before a course can be booked
• Provide a current valid motor vehicle driver’s licence and ASIC card (to be sighted by BIA Staff at lodgement of application)

It is advisable that you read and print a copy of the BIA ADA Drivers Handbook before attending the course.

Provide links to

• ADA application form
• BIA ADA driver’s handbook

14. Airport Parking and Ground Handling Services

BIA has appointed Aerocare, one of Australia’s leading specialist air support services, to manage some of the key elements of the on-ground airport operations. The experience and skills of the ground handling teams ensures that operations deliver the services expected at the best Australian and international airports in Australia and overseas.

The priority services include

• Check-in services
• Ticketing and reservations
• Transfer and arrivals services
• Departure gate services
• Lounge management
• Baggage services
• Special assistance and VIP
• Flight disruption coordination
• Airside & airport bussing
• Airport trolley supply and management

The service team also delivers “tarmac” services demanding high standards of efficiency and safety. These tasks include

• Aircraft loading and unloading
• Cargo loading and unloading
• Baggage transfer and transportation
• Receipt and dispatch services
• Pushback and towing
• Cabin cleaning
• Aircraft waste and water services
• catering

Aircraft Parking

Systems are in place to ensure the orderly and efficient parking of aircraft while they are at Broome Airport

All aircraft not based at BIA must request parking in advance, following clearly defined procedures.

Operators of aircraft which do not have a dedicated parking positions allocated must send a BIA Parking Request Form to the relevant emails.

The Itinerant Ga parking position is for Code A and B aircraft up to a maximum 15m wingspan only, and is located East of TWY G. There is limited parking for approximately 8 aircraft.

If this area is not available you must make contact with the on-duty groundsman on 0437 900 566. If you are parked in the wrong location, you may be asked to relocate.

Itinerant Helicopter parking is available at the Northern Pad, located off TWY F, East of the Engine Run-up Bay.

All international arrivals/departures must complete the BIA parking request form. You are required to contact BIA to confirm your parking position and you must contact Customs/Immigration and Quarantine separate to this form. [Is this entirely relevant

NOTES:

BIA is a Restricted International Airport

In this context, the facility is a Security Controlled Airport under the Aviation Transport Security Authority and Aviation Transport Security Regulations.

Aviation Security Identification Cards must be worn airside at all times.

No aircraft are permitted to park on the south side (RPT Apron) of the runway unless written approval has been received from BIA.

Itinerant Code C parking is available via Taxiway Charlie to Area C. You must make arrangements with BIA before parking in this area.

Pavement Concessions

A pavement concession is required for any aircraft with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) greater than 5,700kg.

In this case, a Pavement Concession Application form must be completed and submitted to Broome International Airport a minimum of 1 working day prior to the planned aircraft arrival date. The application will be assessed on the basis of pavement strengths and surface characteristics only, and approval may be withdrawn at any time should pavement damage occur.

Pavement Concession Application Form