Life under Heathrow flight path about to get noisier
has previously admitted under plans to squeeze in more take-offs and landings
on the existing runways.
over several years in the hope that those living under the flight paths will not
notice that noise is spreading throughout the day.
Christmas. However, they will allow expansion to begin as early as 2010, with
at least another 60,000 flights a year using the existing two runways by 2015.
of aircraft noise from 2010. It is also preparing a planning application to increase
the maximum number of flights at Heathrow from 480,000 to 540,000.
that the cap on flight numbers would not be lifted until 2015. However, the Department
for Transport said: "Additional capacity could potentially be added under mixed
mode before 2015."
as one aircraft lands, another will turn on to the same runway and prepare to
take-off.
with their roles switching each day at about 3pm. This alternation gives people
living under flight paths half a day’s respite from the worst noise.
2015, but only subject to a planning inquiry and meeting the Government’s strict
environmental conditions."
has calculated that mixed mode could add 170,000 flights a year at Heathrow. The
DfT will propose that mixed mode should be limited initially to peak flight times,
possibly 6am-10am and 9pm-11pm, with runway alternation at other times.
that the Government should appoint an independent assessor to decide whether Heathrow
was meeting legal limits on air pollution and noise. Expansion would be postponed
if the assessor decided that limits would be breached.
In 1999 BAA said in a letter to residents: "We do not want, nor shall we seek,
an additional runway." Five years later BAA published a proposal for a third runway.