Fastjet Adventure Flights Pty Ltd already conducts up to eight jet adventure flights from the Bathurst Aerodrome each year, operating an L-39 Albatros Jet.

But the company applied to council to add the Nanchang to its fleet and a report to councillors by engineering services director Darren Sturgiss recommended the request be given the green light, with conditions.

Fastjet Adventure Flights will not be allowed to conduct circuits or aerobatics within the Bathurst area; must restrict jet operations to between 8am and 7pm; must employ noise abatement procedures during take-off and landing; and must pay landing charges in accordance with council’s fees schedule.

“Fastjet Adventure Flights Pty Ltd has operated at Bathurst Aerodrome with a valid permit for a number of years and has been co-operative and complied with the permit conditions,” Mr Sturgiss states in the report.

“Their previously issued permit expires on 16 December 2019. Given the request for altered operations, it is deemed appropriate that the upcoming extension be addressed in conjunction with the request for the inclusion of an additional aircraft.

“The L-39 Albatros is a small jet fighter/training aircraft developed by Czechoslovakia and dates from the 1970s. It is a small jet of 4700 kg maximum take off weight and has a top speed of 750kmh.

“The CJ-6 Nanchang is a radially powered propeller driven 1950s Chinese trainer/fighter aircraft with a top speed of 300km/h and has a maximum take off weight of 1400kg.”

Mr Sturgiss states in his report that Bathurst Aerodrome has been operating from its current site since the 1940s and averages 1600 aircraft movements a month.

He said the addition of the CJ-6 Nanchung was unlikely to have “any significant impact” on the aerodrome’s noise footprint.