Airspace consultation launched by NATS and Gatwick Airport – for Gatwick, London City, Southend & Biggin Hill airport areas

NATS, the UK’s provider of air traffic services, and Gatwick Airport have started a joint consultation today on proposed airspace changes over southern England. It is called the London Airspace Consultation (LAC) and it will run for 14 weeks, until January 21st, 2014. The public can respond. The consultation is on swathes of airspace – not exact routes – which will be determined after consideration of the consultation feedback. That makes commenting difficult. NATS says this is the first stage in a wider programme of proposed changes to deliver the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy (FAS), which is being developed by the CAA. The intention is that the FAS will help airlines make efficiencies in fuel use, and perhaps reduce noise for those over-flown.  New European legislation requires all member States, including the UK, to revise airspace and maximise the use of new technologies, to get noise and CO2 benefits. The current NATS consultation involves airspace around Gatwick and also London City Airport. Later stages will deal with other areas of airspace in other parts of the London airports network,  and should be completed by 2020. Local residents fear the real motive is to pack in more flights.
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The NATS press release:

NATS launches London Airspace Consultation

15.10.2013

– 14 week consultation seeks local feedback on airspace network

– Programme will modernise airspace to make the most of new technology

The consultation is available online at  www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk.
NATS, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic services, starts a consultation today, 15 October, on proposed airspace changes over southern England.

The London Airspace Consultation (LAC) will run from 15 October 2013 to 21 January 2014 and will be available online atwww.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk for stakeholders and the public to view and leave feedback that will help with the modernisation of the UK’s airspace structure.

This consultation is the first stage in a wider programme of proposed changes to deliver the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy (FAS), developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with the support of the aviation industry. It will deliver significant benefits, including fuel savings for airlines, which will also mean fewer CO2 emissions, and less noise overall for people living below.

Aircraft today use very accurate navigation technology and new European legislation requires all member States, including the UK, to revise airspace and maximise the use of these new technologies. Change is therefore inevitable and the focus of this consultation is on how best to enable that change.

After listening to feedback from previous consultations, this consultation is on swathes of airspace – not on proposed routes.  The final route positions will only be determined after consideration of the feedback from the consultation.

The new design concept being implemented for this programme, making the most of new navigation capability, will also significantly reduce the use of conventional holds (or stacks), and put new route structures over the sea where possible.

The net effect of these proposals will be less noise – aircraft will climb higher, more quickly on departure and stay higher for longer on arrival.  Flight paths will eventually change – and this may mean some areas will be overflown more than today, others less, and some will not notice any significant change.

For Gatwick routes, the consultation is being run jointly by NATS and Gatwick Airport, with Gatwick leading consultation on changes below 4,000ft, and NATS on changes above 7,000ft.

Consultation on changes planned for airspace between 4,000 and 7,000ft will be managed jointly. 

NATS is leading the consultation on the intermediate and network airspace proposals for the other airports; London City is not yet in a position to proceed with low level change proposals, which will be subject to a future consultation.

Later stages will address proposals for airspace supporting other parts of the London airports network, to be complete by 2020.

Juliet Kennedy, NATS’ Operations Director, Swanwick, said: “The airspace change programme is essential if we are to contribute to and ensure the success of the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy (FAS). The airspace above London is the most complex in the world, and as traffic levels increase change is necessary to ensure safety and service levels.”

The consultation is available online at www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk. The postcode search facility and clickable maps with consultation areas clearly marked makes it easy to see which proposed changes have the most relevance to a specific location. Feedback can be given directly on the website.

http://www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk/?page_id=37

Main parts

  • Part A (PDF, 1 MB)Part A: Executive Summary and Introduction
  • Part B (PDF, 4 MB)Proposed changes in the vicinity of Gatwick Airport below 4,000ft
  • Part C (PDF, 4 MB)Proposed Changes to London Gatwick Routes between 4,000ft and 7,000ft over parts of Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent
  • Part D (PDF, 2 MB)Proposed changes to London Gatwick Routes above 7,000ft over parts of Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent
  • Part E (PDF, 5 MB)Proposed Changes to London City and London Biggin Hill Routes between 4,000ft and 7,000ft over parts of Essex and Kent
  • Part F (PDF, 3 MB)Proposed changes to London City, London Biggin Hill and London Southend routes above 7,000ft over parts of Kent, Essex and Suffolk
  • Part G (PDF, 900 kB)Justification and further detail for proposed changes including effects on aviation

.http://www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk/?page_id=37

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Could new ‘respite routes’ reduce noise for people living under Gatwick flight paths?

Gatwick Airport, control tower with aircraft in flight in background, August 2004.

Gatwick Airport, control tower with aircraft in flight in background, August 2004.

The London Airspace Consultation (LAC) will run until January 21, 2014 and is available online for the public to view and leave feedback that will help with the modernisation of the UK’s airspace structure.

This consultation is the first stage in a wider programme of proposed changes to deliver the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy (FAS), developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with the support of the aviation industry.

It will deliver significant benefits, including fuel savings for airlines, which will also mean fewer CO2 emissions, and less noise overall for people living below.

Aircraft today use very accurate navigation technology and new European legislation requires all member States, including the UK, to revise airspace and maximise the use of these new technologies.

Change is therefore inevitable and the focus of this consultation is on how best to enable that change.

At this stage of the programme, proposed changes focus on the airspace supporting London Gatwick Airport from ground level up, and to the airspace supporting London City Airport above 4,000ft.

Later stages will address proposals for airspace supporting other parts of the London airports network, to be complete by 2020.

After listening to feedback from previous consultations, this consultation is on swathes of airspace – not on proposed routes. The final route positions will only be determined after consideration of the feedback from the consultation.

There is a possibility of including ‘respite routes’ – additional routes that could provide some predictable respite from noise for people living below flight paths.

The new design concept being implemented for this programme, making the most of new navigation capability, will also significantly reduce the use of conventional holds (or stacks), and put new route structures over the sea where possible.

The net effect of these proposals will be less noise – aircraft will climb higher, more quickly on departure and stay higher for longer on arrival. Flight paths will eventually change – and this may mean some areas will be overflown more than today, others less, and some will not notice any significant change.

Juliet Kennedy, NATS’ Operations Director, Swanwick, said: “The airspace change programme is essential if we are to contribute to and ensure the success of the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy (FAS). The airspace above London is the most complex in the world, and as traffic levels increase change is necessary to ensure safety and service levels.”

Tom Denton, Head of Corporate Responsibility at London Gatwick, said: “Gatwick is committed to leading the way in terms of airspace innovation and operation, which is why we were so keen to be the first major UK airport to work with NATS to fully review and consult on our airspace.

“Gatwick’s noise impacts are already well mitigated and significantly lower than at other major airports. However, the airport continues to look at ways to further reduce the number of people affected by aircraft noise in line with Government policy.

“This project gives us an opportunity to further reduce the number of people affected by noise, as well as focus on further reducing Co2 emissions and air quality impacts. Therefore this is an important time for local people and those who live within our flight paths, who now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to give their feedback and influence the future of our airspace.”

The consultation is available online at www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk.

The postcode search facility and clickable maps with consultation areas clearly marked makes it easy to see which proposed changes have the most relevance to a specific location. Feedback can be given directly on the website.

This consultation is not linked to the work of the Airports Commission or to Gatwick’s proposals for a second runway.

http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/local/could-new-respite-routes-reduce-noise-for-people-living-under-gatwick-flight-paths-1-5584748

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AIRSPACE CONSULTATION LAUNCHED BY NATS AND LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT

Written by  

A 14-week airspace consultation has been launched jointly by air traffic service provider NATS and London Gatwick Airport.

The London Airspace Consultation (LAC) started today and will run until January 21, focusing on proposed airspace changes over southern England and to help with the modernisation of the UK’s airspace structure.

LAC is seeking to gain local feedback on Gatwick’s airspace ‘motorway network’, and to modernise airspace to make the most of new technology.

Any changes made from the consultation will also support Gatwick’s focus on reducing noise, Co2 emissions and air quality impacts.

Head of corporate responsibility at Gatwick, Tom Denton, says: “Gatwick is committed to leading the way in terms of airspace innovation and operation, which is why we were so keen to be the first major UK airport to work with NATS to fully review and consult on our airspace.”

The consultation is the first stage in a wider programme of proposed changes to deliver the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy developed by the Civil Aviation Authority with the support of the aviation industry.

Changes are aimed at delivering a range of benefits including fuel savings for airlines, meaning fewer Co2 emissions and less noise.

Denton continues: “This project gives us an opportunity to further reduce the number of people affected by noise, as well as focus on further reducing Co2 emissions and air quality impacts.

“Therefore this is an important time for local people and those who live within our flight paths, who now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to give their feedback and influence the future of our airspace.”

The consultation is not linked to the work of the Sir Howard Davies led Airports Commission or Gatwick’s proposal for a second runway.

Once finished results of the consultation will be available online for stakeholders and the public to view and give their opinions.

Visit www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk for details.

http://www.airport-world.com/component/k2/item/3177-airspace-consultation-started-by-nats-and-london-gatwick-airport

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NATS says:

This is the first stage in a wider programme of airspace modernisation to be complete by 2020.  This stage addresses changes to airspace supporting Gatwick, London City, Southend and Biggin Hill airports.

…Please note we are consulting on broad swathes of airspace, within which routes will be positioned.  Final route positions will be determined after considering feedback from the consultation, which is seeking information on local considerations which we should take into account.

The net effect of these proposals will be less noise – overall, aircraft will climb higher, more quickly on departure and stay higher for longer on arrival.  However, flight paths will change – and this may mean some areas will be overflown more than today, others less, and some will not notice any significant change.

In respect of the Gatwick Airport proposals, this is a joint consultation by NATS and Gatwick Airport. 

Gatwick Airport is leading consultation on proposed changes to its departure and arrival routes below 4,000ft; NATS is leading consultation on proposals for changes to network airspace above 7,000ft.  Intermediate airspace between 4,000-7,000ft, where low altitude and network airspace connect, requires partnership between us.

Paul Haskins

General Manager Terminal Control

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