Birmingham Airport consultation on new flight paths from 2014 due to runway extension
Birmingham airport’s runway extension was started in November, and is likely to be ready by early 2014. There is now a Birmingham airport consultation on new flight paths, that will be needed for the extended runway. The 3-month consultation has started over new departure routes which would need Civil Aviation Authority approval. The new routes have been designed using the latest technology that allows aircraft to fly more precisely (a sort of aircraft sat nav). As the runway will be extended further south, there will be a change to the routeing of aircraft after taking-off to the south. This is due to the earliest point that aircraft can turn after departure also moving further to the south, affecting the routeing of aircraft which will mean a change for some communities. There are already some very annoyed residents, who will now suffer a lot more noise. They are not reassured that planes are theoretically a bit less noisy than they used to be, as they are now larger and heavier, and more frequent. No date is given for the end of the consultation, but is is probably around the end of March 2013
Planned flight paths at Birmingham Airport revealed
- Details of the consultation are at http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta/news/2013/01/airspace-change-consultation-launched.aspx
- Work on the runway started in November
Aircraft would fly closer to some villages under plans to change Birmingham Airport’s flight paths.
A three-month consultation has started over new departure routes which would need Civil Aviation Authority approval.
Aircraft would go further away from Catherine-de-Barnes, Eastcote, Knowle and Meriden, but closer to some parts of Hampton-in-Arden, Barston and Balsall Common, the airport said.
Hampton-in-Arden Society member Graham Juniper called the plan “disgraceful”.
He said: “The planes will have an impact on everybody and on the church which is at that end of the village and the school which is at that end.
“We’re very annoyed about this proposal and they will be in lots of parts of Balsall Common.
“The planes may be quieter than 30 years ago and they get up higher quicker. But on the other hand you get the big planes taking off and landing.”
Airport public affairs director John Morris said: “As a result of our flight paths being redesigned using the latest criteria, aircraft will be able to fly more precisely on the centre line of a flight path.
“By narrowing the corridor in which aircraft fly, and as more airlines introduce newer aircraft installed with the latest navigational aids, even fewer communities could be over-flown in the future.”
The airport is to hold events for residents to find out more details, in Catherine-de-Barnes, Barston, Eastcote, Meriden, Berkswell, Hampton-in-Arden, Marston Green, Bickenhill, Balsall Common, Knowle and Sheldon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20985744
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11 January 2013
As the runway will be extended further south, there will be a change to the routeing of aircraft after taking-off to the south. This is due to the earliest point that aircraft can turn after departure also moving further to the south, affecting the routeing of aircraft which will mean a change for some communities.
Currently, aircraft departing from Birmingham are directed to fly within a 3km ‘noise corridor’, up to 3000ft to minimise the noise impact on local communities. However, after redesigning the flight paths using the latest criteria, aircraft will be able to fly more precisely. The Airport has therefore committed to reduce the existing 3km noise corridor to 2km to demonstrate its confidence in the changes.
The new flight paths mean that aircraft will fly further away from Catherine-de-Barnes, Eastcote, Knowle and Meriden, but closer to some parts of Hampton in Arden, Barston and Balsall Common.
John Morris, the Airport’s Public Affairs Director, explained, “As a result of our flight paths being redesigned using the latest criteria, aircraft will be able to fly more precisely on the centre line of a flight path which means that we no longer need such a wide noise corridor. By narrowing the corridor in which aircraft fly, and as more airlines introduce newer aircraft installed with the latest navigational aids, even fewer communities could be over-flown in the future.”
As well as consulting on changes to the flight paths for aircraft taking off, the Airport is also consulting on changes to the arrival procedures for aircraft landing from the south due to aircraft touching down earlier on the extended runway. This will mean that aircraft, at any point along the final approach path, will be approximately 51ft lower than at present.
Meanwhile, it is likely that the noise impact for many communities to the north of the airport will improve, as the take off threshold for aircraft departing to the north will start from a more southerly position on the airfield. This means that aircraft will start to climb sooner and be higher in the sky in the north of the Airport, reducing the noise impact for many communities.
To give local people an opportunity to find out more about the proposed airspace changes, the Airport is holding a series of roadshows in Catherine-de-Barnes, Barston, Eastcote, Meriden, Berkswell, Hampton-in-Arden, Marston Green, Bickenhill, Balsall Common, Knowle and Sheldon. Full details for these roadshows can be found at:www.birminghamairport.co.uk/airspace or by calling 0121 767 7433.
Regardless of the runway extension at Birmingham, all major UK airports will have to redesign their flight paths to the latest design standard in the future due to ground-based navigational aids being withdrawn by circa 2018.
The CAA will make a decision whether or not to approve Birmingham Airport’s new routes once the results of the consultation, together with the Airport’s proposals, have been considered.
Full details of the proposals and the roadshows can be accessed via the Airport’s websitewww.birminghamairport.co.uk/airspace. Hardcopies will be made available upon request by calling the Airport’s Environmental Helpline on 0121 767 7433, or by emailingairspace@birminghamairport.co.uk.
Further details can be found here
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To inform our stakeholders on the proposed changes to our flight paths that are required as a result of the runway extension, we will be consulting on proposals for new arrival procedures for Runway 33 and new departure procedures for Runway 15.
To inform our stakeholders of the possible changes to their communities, we will be holding a series of local Roadshows, which we would encourage our neighbours to attend to find out more and give the Airport feedback on the proposals.
The Roadshows details can be found by downloading the following document:
Arrivals onto Runway 33
The consultation for the approach routes launched on Friday 30th November 2012 and will close on Friday 1st March 2013. Details of the proposed changes for the approach routes can be found here.
Departures from Runway 15
With the extended runway at Birmingham Airport, changes are required to the flight paths to and from the Airport. The information contained within this page relates to the proposed changes to the Standard Instrument Departure procedures only
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You can respond to this consultation in the following ways:
By filling in the airspace consultation feedback form.
By emailing airspace@birminghamairport.co.uk
Further information relating to the Environmental Assessment is available upon request.