TOP NEWS: LONDON CITY TO LOOK AGAIN AT ITS CONCENTRATED FLIGHT PATHS
London City Airport is to look again at its controversial concentrated flight paths. It told its Consultative Committee yesterday (7/3/19) that it will consult on new proposals later this year. This will be a wide-ranging consultation conducted under the new rules laid down by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The airport will need to consult people on how they want the flight paths designed - for example, do they want pure concentration as now or do they want multiple flight paths which can be rotated in order to give communities a break from the noise.
When London City concentrated its flight paths in 2016, the airport saw a fourfold increase in complaints. While some people did not get planes anymore, the communities over which they were concentrated felt the pain.
HACAN East response to Heathrow airspace consultation
Here is the link to our response to the current Heathrow consultation on airspace change. Feel free to make use of it in your own response. Closing date 4th March: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Heathrow-Consultation-response-from-HACAN-East.pdf
LONDON ASSEMBLY REPORT CALLS FOR END OF LONDON CITY CONCENTRATED FLIGHT PATHS
A clear call from the London Assembly in its report on London's airports, out yesterday, for City to get rid of its concentrated flight paths and to work with Heathrow to tackle the problem of areas being overflown by flights from both airports resulting in at times 50 planes an hour https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/aircraft_noise_final.pdf
Heathrow Consultation: Impact on East and North East London
21st January 2019
Heathrow is consulting on the biggest changes to its flight paths since the airport opened in 1946. The consultation ends on 4th March.
It could bring benefit to East and NE London. For the first time they could get a daily break from the aircraft.
At present many areas are overflown all day long by Heathrow planes. That could change.
A lot of places also get overflown by London City aircraft. They are not subject to this consultation but some of the changes proposed for the Heathrow planes could ease the burden on these areas.
Read more here in our special briefing: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/HACAN-East-Heathrow-Consultation-East-London.pdf
Major Heathrow consultation launched today
8th January 2019
Heathrow Airport launched a major public consultation today. It runs for 12 weeks until 4th March.
Key Points:
Runway alternation in West London will be cut from half a day to a third of the day to allow for alternation on a third runway if it is built. The consultation is asking for views on how this should be implemented.
Significant changes to airspace are proposed to allow for vast swathes of London and the Home Counties, which currently get all-day flying, to get respite from the noise for the first time. It applies to both arrivals and departures.
The night period when there are no scheduled flights allowed will be extended from 5 hours to six and a half hours. Views are sought on how this should operate.
Views are sought on whether ‘westerly operation’ should remain – this is where planes continue to fly as if a west wind is blowing when there is an east wind (of up to 5 knots)
Heathrow is proposing to bring in 25,000 extra flights a year in the years running up to the opening of any third runway.
The full Heathrow document is here: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Heathrow-Airspace-and-Future-Operations-Consultation-document-Final-low-res.pdf
HEATHROW PLANS ‘NEAR REVOLUTION’ IN ITS FLIGHT PATHS
EAST AND SOUTH EAST LONDON COULD BE THE BIG WINNERS
East and South East London could be the big winners in the proposed changes to its flights paths Heathrow announced today. Many of these areas look set to enjoy a daily predicable period of respite from the noise for the first time.
John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN, said, “The proof will be in what happens in practice and it is still some years away but it looks as if all-day flying could become a thing of the past for very many people. Heathrow are planning a near revolution in their flight paths. They plan to rotate their new flight paths in order to give people some relief from the noise.”
The proposals are part of a wide-ranging 12 week public consultation which Heathrow launched today (1). Under the proposals people in West London, who currently enjoy a half day’s break from the noise when planes switch runways at 3pm, will find that cut to one third of the day if a third runway is built. But all-day flying will become a thing of the past for many places as the principle of respite is extended to people living under departures routes and areas such as Windsor and South East London which at present do not get it (2).
The consultation also asks for views on night flights. One condition Parliament laid down when it gave Heathrow the go-ahead to work up proposals for a third runway is that the current 5 hour night break is extended to 6½ hours. Heathrow is asking for views on how this should be implemented.
Heathrow is also proposing to bring in 25,000 more flights a year before any new runway opens. The plan is called Independent Parallel Approaches (IPA). It would require the lifting of the 480,000 annual cap on flights which was imposed as a condition of Terminal 5.
Heathrow will only ask for these flights until the third runway is operational. They would only start once Heathrow’s detailed plans for a third runway had been approved – expected to be 2021. Heathrow aims to open a third runway in 2015 so it is likely IPA would be in place for about 4 years.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Full Heathrow document: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Heathrow-Airspace-and-Future-Operations-Consultation-document-Final-low-res.pdf
(2). See page 23 of the document
Aviation Green Paper Published
‘Aviation 2050: The future of UK aviation’ – key points
On December 17th the Government published its Green Paper with proposals for its new aviation strategy which it will finalise and release in the second half of 2019. It is an important document. It sets out proposals for UK aviation policy until 2050.
There will be a 16 week consultation ending on 11 April 2019
Link to the full paper: https://aviationstrategy.campaign.gov.uk
There’s also a NATS paper on the new type of flight paths being introduced: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/763085/nats-caa-feasibility-airspace-modernisation.pdf
And a CAA paper on past and future noise levels:
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%201731%20Aviation%20Strategy%20Noise%20Forecast%20and%20Analyses.pdf
In summary:
The Green Paper sets out to cater for the significant growth in flying it predicts will take place in the UK and around the world.
It argues that this growth can take place without exceeding the UK’s aviation climate targets.
It assumes a third runway will be built at Heathrow
It contains some welcome noise proposals that campaigners have been lobbying for over many years.
It lays describes the implications of the move from ground-based technology to satellite technology when designing flight paths
It sets out measures to improve and monitor air pollution from aircraft
Read more in the 3 page summary our sister organisation HACAN has put together: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Green-Paper-summary-four.pdf
UNLIKE DIAMONDS, FLIGHT PATHS ARE NOT FOREVER
There is no doubt that the Civil Aviation Authority’s backing last month of London City’s concentrated flight paths was a huge blow to very many people.
But I suspect that is not the end of the matter. There may be renewed pressure on London City to offer some respite.
The pressure could come from three directions:
Local discontent will not go away. And may intensify as thousands more homes are built under or close to the flight path in East London over the next few years. These homes may be well-insulated and many of the newcomers will have some awareness that they will get aircraft noise. However, it is expected that, London City could come to impact at least 74,000 people which would mean it would overfly more people in the UK than any airport except Heathrow and Manchester and almost twice as many as Brussels or Schiphol. Will they all really keep quiet if they get no predicable break from the noise?
Flight paths at airports across London and the South East will be altered. Before Christmas NATS, the air traffic controllers, will publish a major report looking at how the flight paths changes at the different airports can mesh together. It is probable that NATS will not expect to see changes to London City’s flight paths but the wider changes will be so fundamental that nothing is guaranteed.
Heathrow is committed to introducing respite. Heathrow’s new flight paths are not expected to come in before 2025 (when a third runway would open if it is given final permission) but Heathrow flight paths which were rotated to give people respite would highlight just what a poor deal people were getting from London City.
OVER 900,000 under ConcentRated flights
The CAA report, released on 23rd October, which backed London City’s decision to concentrated its flights paths (see post below for details) also revealed the number of people who live under the concentrated flight paths.
Number of people overflown by arrivals:
Under 4,000ft 331,000
4,000 – 7,000ft 72,000
Total under 7,000ft 403,000
Number of people overflown by departures:
Under 4,000ft 416,300
4,000-7,000ft 115,100
Total under 7,000ft 531,400
There is a smaller number impacted by both arrivals and departures but the CAA has not done that calculation.
The overall numbers overflown before the flight paths were concentrated were of course much higher as planes were more dispersed but each area had fewer flights than people under the concentrated flights are now experiencing. If complaint numbers are anything to go by, there was much less annoyance.
LONG-AWAITED CAA REPORT BACKS CONCENTRATED FLIGHT PATHS
The long-awaited CAA report assessing London City Airport’s concentrated flight paths was released this afternoon (23rd October). It has backed the concentrated flight paths. Below is the press release HACAN East has issued. It includes a link to the report.
JPRESS RELEASE
23/10/18 for immediate use
ANGER AND DESPAIR IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS CAA BACKS LONDON CITY FLIGHT PATH CHANGES
Local residents reacted with fury to the report (1) published today by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which backed the controversial changes London City Airport made to its flight paths two years ago. In 2016 the airport narrowed all its flights paths. It resulted in a fourfold increase in complaints as people under these new concentrated flight paths experienced many more planes than before.
Today’s report from the CAA assesses the changes that were made. It has recommended that the concentrated flight paths remain in place.
The report did ask London City to look into why the fuel and CO2 savings from the new flight paths were less than predicted. It asked the airport to explain why the aircraft were flying slightly off the predicted routes. But the CAA felt the variations were negligible as far as noise was concerned and backed the new concentrated routes.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, the campaign body which gives a voice to residents experiencing the noise, said, “There is anger and despair that the CAA has backed the concentrated flight paths. Many people hoped that today’s report would end two years of misery and they would be able to get their lives back. This decision is a cruel blow for them.”
Stewart added, “This will not be the end of the matter. We had support from a wide range of politicians in calling for an end to concentration. These included the Mayor of London, leading members of the Greater London Authority and lots of local councillors. We will be liaising with them about next steps.”
The flight paths were concentrated in 2016 after minimal consultation. Subsequently the CAA introduced more rigorous consultation procedures but they came in too late for the London City changes.
Over the next few years flight paths will be altered at most of the UK’s airports. The changes are driven by new technology. Ground-based technology is being replaced by satellite systems to guide aircraft as they land and depart. It means that planes can be steered along more precise flight paths, saving fuel, cutting climate emissions and reducing delays at airports.
This results in more concentrated flight paths but it also allows the airport more scope to create a number of concentrated flight paths which could be rotated to give residents some respite from the noise. This is what residents have been calling for.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
(1). CAA report: http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP1692C_ModuleC_FinalV3(P_LINKS).pdf
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
NEW WHO NOISE GUIDELINES: AIRCRAFT NOISE CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS MANY MILES FROM AN AIRPORT
Yesterday (October 10th), the World Health Organisation published its new noise guidelines. They confirm what local residents have been telling us that aircraft noise can cause annoyance, stress and potential health problems many miles from an airport.
The new noise guidelines from the World Health Organisation, published 10th October 2018, are tougher on aircraft noise than previously.
Recommended Limits
Road 53Lden 45Lnight
Rail 54Lden 44Lnight
Aircraft 45Len 40Lnight
Wind Turbines 45Lden no recommendation
The World Health Organisation has found that when average noise is 45 decibels it can have health effects. Previous WHO guidelines argued that people could start to become annoyed by noise when it averaged out at 50 decibels over the day.
This extends significantly the number of people impacted by either London City or Heathrow or both. There are no public figures for the number of people living within the 45Lden contours but, in the case of Heathrow, it is likely to extend to areas 20 miles, and possibly further, from the airport. That would include Greenwich and probably also the Leyton, Leytonstone and Wanstead areas as they get both Heathrow and London City aircraft.
The 45Lden contour from London City would stretch less far but would include a much wider geographical area than the current 54LAeq contour which goes about as far as Blackwall.
The World Health Organisation guidelines applies to all countries within Europe, not just those in the European Union but are simply guidelines. Their main purpose is to outline the health impacts of noise on the basis of the available evidence. The WHO does not expect the levels to be adhered to overnight as that would entail the closure of most airports and many roads. But, in due course, they should affect the policies of airports. HACAN East will be pressing for that to happen as soon as possible.
Our sister body, HACAN, put out this press release: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WHO-new-noise-guidelines-Press-Release.pdf
Full WHO report: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/383921/noise-guidelines-eng.pdf?ua=1
HEATHROW REMAINS IN A NOISE LEAGUE OF ITS OWN
London City the fastest riser
Heathrow remains in a noise league of its own, according to figures unearthed by campaign group HACAN. 725,000 people are impacted by noise from Heathrow flights, over seven times as many as second-placed Manchester. But compared with the 2006 figures London City is the fastest riser. The population impacted by East London's airport have more than doubled. This is thought to be down to the number of new homes being built in the area. All the figures are take from official reports produced by the airports.
