Restrictions on UK ‘night flights’ at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted extended until 2017
In the Government’s response to the Airports Commission’s December 2013 interim report, Patrick McLoughlin announced that plans to more than double the number of ‘night flights’ at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have been postponed until 2017. Under proposals outlined in the Commission’s interim report the number of planes allowed to land at the airport before 6am each day would have increased from 16 to 35 from 2015. The government now says it wants to ensure “regulatory stability” at south east airports while the Commission makes its final recommendations on which airport should be recommended to be allowed to build a new runway. The government is also extending the ban on “rare movements made by older noisier types of aircraft.” McLoughlin said: “This decision will help give certainty around the night noise environment for those living near the airports, as well as ensuring operational capacity at these airports is not affected pending decisions on any new airport capacity in light of the commission’s final report.” The government has also postponed the Commission’s recommendation for an Independent Aviation Noise Authority.
.
Tweet
Restrictions on UK ‘night flights’ extended until 2017
Government plans to more than double the number of ‘night flights’ at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have been postponed until 2017, the transport secretary has confirmed.
Under proposals outlined in the Airport Commission’s interim report, which was published in December 2013, the number of planes allowed to land at the airport [Heathrow] before 6am each day would have increased from 16 to 35 from next year. [Airports Commission’s interim report with night flight section around page 148]
The government has now put those plans back three years, stating it wanted to ensure “regulatory stability” at southeast airports while the Airports Commission makes its final recommendations on which airport should be used to increase capacity for the UK.
Gatwick is currently competing with Heathrow to build a new runway, with the Airports Commission due to make a recommendation on which airport should be expanded next summer.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, said: “The government is confirming today that we will be maintaining the existing restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports for a further three years until October 2017, as well as extending the ban on rare movements made by older noisier types of aircraft.”
He added: “This decision will help give certainty around the night noise environment for those living near the airports, as well as ensuring operational capacity at these airports is not affected pending decisions on any new airport capacity in light of the commission’s final report.”
The government has also postponed the Commission’s recommendation for an Independent Aviation Noise Authority. It said: “The government believes that it would be more appropriate to consider the role for such a body alongside the commission’s final recommendations on long-term capacity.”
McLoughlin was responding to the Airport Commissions interim report published in December.
Earlier this week campaign group Let Britain Fly criticised the government for failure to respond sooner to the report – calling its lack of response “unacceptable”.
http://buyingbusinesstravel.com/news/1622805-restrictions-uk-night-flights-extended-until-2017
.
.
.
.
Plans to double night flights at Heathrow are shelved
July 15, 2014
By Robert Cumber
Government has also postponed its decision on creating an independent aircraft noise regulator until at least next summer
Plans to more than double the number of night flights at Heathrow from next year were today shelved by the Government.
The number of planes allowed to land at the airport before 6am each day would have increased from 16 to 35 from next year, under proposals outlined in the Airport Commission’s interim report in December.
In return, residents living under the flight paths would have been guaranteed respite from early morning arrivals, with a different runway used each week.
However, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin today announced he would wait for the commission’s final recommendations next summer before deciding whether to introduce the measure, known as ‘smoothing’.
He also postponed decisions on creating an independent aircraft noise regulator and allowing both runways to be used simultaneously for arrivals to reduce delays, both of which were recommended in the commission’s interim report.
In his response to the interim report, published this morning, Mr McLoughlin said: “In relation to the commission’s recommendation for an Independent Aviation Noise Authority, the government believes that it would be more appropriate to consider the role for such a body alongside the commission’s final recommendations on long term capacity.
“Similarly, we believe that any further government decisions on using the runway designated for departures (eg enhanced TEAM) and for a trial of early morning schedule smoothing at Heathrow should also be considered at that point and in the context of the commission’s recommendations on long-term capacity.”
He added that the current night flight restrictions would remain in place until at least 2017.
Hounslow Council welcomed the delay but said it would continue to fight for a complete ban on night flights.
Gavin Hayes, director of pro-expansion campaign group Let Britain Fly, was not impressed by Mr McLoughlin’s response.
“Instead of bold political leadership, the Government has decided to kick the can down the road for another year,” he said.
“We so desperately need a clear direction of travel and an in-principle commitment to build additional runways to boost our international connectivity and secure future jobs, growth and prosperity. Instead, we have yet more political procrastination.”
The Airports Commission was set up by the Government in 2012 to consider the case for aviation expansion in the short, medium and long term.
It has short-listed two sets of plans for a third runway at Heathrow and one for a new landing strip at Heathrow, and is due to decide this autumn whether to short-list proposals for a new Thames estuary airport.
The commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, is due to make its final recommendation next summer, shortly after the general election.
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/plans-double-night-flights-heathrow-7426323
.
.
Government to make no significant change to night flights regime at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted until Airports Commission report
…
Airports Commission publishes interim report
17 December 2013 (Airports Commission press release)
Airports Commission: interim report (228 pages)
(night flights section around Page 148)
Various associated papers are also at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airports-commission-interim-report
Airports Commission: interim report – appendix 3 technical appendix PDF, 1.41MB, 116 pages contains a section on carbon emissions from pages 64 to 72.
.
.
DfT announces start of 3 month consultation on night flight regime at Heathrow, Gatwick & Stansted
Heathrow residents disappointed there is still no night flight ban in the Dft consultation
Date added: January 22, 2013
Commenting on the publication today of the DfT’s consultation into a new night flight regime at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, HACAN (the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) said is was disappointed that the Government has still not committed itself to a night flight ban. However, they have welcomed the fact that the Government is prepared to look at measures which could mitigate the noise. These include increasing the angle of descent on approach; guaranteed respite periods; changing the existing scheduling or operating bans which affect the noisiest aircraft types. John Stewart, Chair of HACAN, which represents residents under the Heathrow flight paths, said: “We are very clear that we want a ban on night flights before 6 o’clock and a progressive reduction between 6am and 7am. Many people under the Heathrow flight paths don’t need an alarm clock; the first plane wakes them at 4.30 am.”
Click here to view full story…
.
See also, from the HACAN website:
Economic costs of sleep deprivation to be included in night flights review
In a Lord’s debate (28/5/12) the Government announced it would consider the economic loss due to sleep loss when it reviews night flights later this year. This will be the first time this has been done. The issue was first raised in a CE Delft Report published by HACAN. Welcome move.
More details of the announcement
Read the HACAN report
.
.
.
.
.
.