Further breaches at Leeds Bradford airport ‘won’t be tolerated’ by council

Date added: 16 April, 2010

16.4.2010 (Telegraph & Argus)

by Amanda Greaves

Airport bosses are being warned that further breaches of night-flight rules will
not be tolerated.

Leeds planners tonight agreed to formally warn Leeds-Bradford International Airport
(LBIA) after considering a report which detailed 32 incidents over the past year
when aircraft have departed or landed after the agreed evening deadline.

The vast majority involved flights to Islamabad run by Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) and its predecessor Shaheen Airlines.

Leeds Plans Panel West is also demanding a firm timetable for the measures which
the airport, with PIA, has promised to take to try to tackle the problem.

Councillor Elizabeth Nash said: "It really needs quieter aircraft, and we really
do have to be tough."

Councillor Jamie Matthews said: "I think it’s important that we threaten and,
if necessary, take action."

But principal planning officer Martin Sellens, recommending a prudent approach,
said: "The airport has worked hard with the airline to try to get earlier departure
times and use quieter aircraft.

"Given the steps that have already been taken my feeling is we should not take
action at the moment but should have the threat to take action if things do not
considerably improve.

"That is why we should formally write to say it’s an issue we need to see resolved."

Panel chairman Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: "The airport have been working on this but there seems to be a problem
with this particular company, which I would say the airport needs some support
with.

"If you look at the departures in December only a couple breached the 11pm ‘deadline’
but there wasn’t much consistency and there was a range of times in the evening,
within two to three hours, when the aircraft took off.

"I’m happy for us to write to the airport saying we appreciate what you’re trying
to do but, if it happens again then we will take action against you.

"In regards to the noise reduction proposals we need to be given more details
about how they are going to be implemented, and we should ask for updates on the
Noise Reduction Plan should be forwarded to us."

The panel will be given an update report on the issue in six months.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8102488.Councillors_give_night_flight_warning/?ref=rss

see also

Leeds Bradford Airport under scrutiny over late-night flying

13th April 2010         Councillors will this week consider a report which details 32 breaches of planning
rules (7 between Nov 2009 and Feb 2010) over noisy night-time flying at Leeds
Bradford International Airport. A late-running Pakistan International Airline
(PIA) flight to Islamabad has created all the breaches in the rules, which operate
to reducenight flying between 11pm-7am. (Guardian)     Click here to view full story…

 11th April 2010         People are being urged to take part in a consulation process – on the draft noise
action plan – over noise levels at the Airport. Completed questionnaires must
be returned by April 27, but Aireborough Civic Society believes many people are
not aware of the consultation. Copies of the document and a questionnaire are
in local libraries and on the airport’s website, and the civic society is urging
people to speak up as the consultation affects airport noise for the next 5 years.      
Click here to view full story…

Posted: Friday, April 16th, 2010. Filed in News about Airports.