Thousands of Londoners would hear a plane “every 90 seconds for 13 hours/day” if Heathrow 3rd runway is built

Date added: 5 August, 2014

Heathrow knows it cannot get a 3rd runway unless it can somehow persuade people that there will be less noise from 50% more aircraft than there is today. In order to try and achieve this miraculous result, some massaging of figures is needed, and some clever use of statistics. In reality, it is likely that with three runways, tens of thousands of people in west London would lose half of their daily “noise-free” period (from runway alternation – switching runway at 3pm). HACAN, the group campaigning against the noise impacts of Heathrow, and thus against Heathrow’s expansion, say some areas would have planes passing overhead every 90 seconds for a “nightmarish” 13 hours a day. HACAN discovered the noise data “buried” in an appendix to one of Heathrow’s reports sent to the Airports Commission and “slipped out” before the holidays. It appears likely that residents under the southern flight path, including areas such as Richmond, would lose almost 4 hours of their 8 hour quiet period. People living under the current northern flight path would continue to get about 8 hours of respite but HACAN claim this would be spoiled for many because they would hear aircraft from one of the two other runways on either side of them.
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Some areas would have planes passing overhead every ninety seconds for a “nightmarish” 13 hours a day, anti-expansion group Hacan claimed.

The warning comes after Airports Commission chief Sir Howard Davies signalled that his report, due next summer, will recommend at least one new runway for the South-East, with Heathrow and Gatwick shortlisted for expansion.

Hacan said it discovered the noise data “buried” in an appendix to one of Heathrow’s reports sent to the Davies Commission and “slipped out” before the holidays. http://your.heathrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/01-Heathrow-3RNW-Air-and-Ground-Noise-Assessment.pdf 14.7.2014

Residents under the southern flight path, including areas such as Richmond, would lose almost four hours of peace, it claimed. They currently enjoy an eight-hour break when the planes switch runways at 3pm, but this would drop to just over four hours.

People living under what is now the northern flight path would continue to get about eight hours of respite but Hacan claimed this would be spoiled for many because they would hear aircraft from one of the two other runways on either side of them.

John Stewart, chairman of the pressure group, said: “The prospect of 13-hour flying is nightmarish. Quite simply, many communities are going to be hammered if a third runway is built.

“Heathrow Airport hasn’t hidden the information but the fact that it is buried in an appendix shows how reluctant they are to spell out the implications of a new runway.”

A Heathrow spokesperson responded: “We have sought to maintain the principle of runway alternation and have submitted several flight path options to the Airports Commission.

“This includes a scenario that optimises periods of predictable respite, which local communities have told us is more important than exposing new communities to noise. If a third runway is recommended, we plan to consult with local communities on how respite could be delivered.”

The Conservatives are likely to drop their 2010 pledge to rule out a third runway when they publish their 2015 manifesto. The Liberal Democrats are expected to continue opposing Heathrow expansion but are debating whether to drop their opposition to Gatwick having a second runway.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/one-plane-every-90-seconds-for-13-hours-if-heathrow-third-runway-is-built-9646184.html

HACAN – www.hacan.org.uk

Heathrow’s list of documents submitted to the Airports Commission is at

http://your.heathrow.com/britainsheathrow/downloads

The reports submitted on 14th July are:

Heathrow 3RNW – Air and Ground Noise Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Air Quality Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Biodiversity ASsessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Carbon Footprint Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Water Quality and Hydro-ecology Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Assessment of flood risk	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Sustainable Drainage Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Geo-Environmental Assessment	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Resource Efficiency	PDF	14/07/2014
Heathrow 3RNW – Introduction to Tech. Assessments	PDF	14/07/2014

….. and there are many from May 2014 and earlier.

Earlier – implausible claim by Heathrow airport:

It claimed that 28 to 45% fewer people would be affected by aircraft noise when the three-runway airport reached full capacity by 2040.

This would be the equivalent of 200,000 to 325,000 fewer people suffering under the flight path, according the figures based on the EU’s 55 decibel “Lden” measure and verified by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Using the same measure, the Mayor claimed in May that Heathrow had understated third runway noise using 2030 forecasts when the expanded airport would not be at full capacity.

Mr Johnson, who wants to shut the west London airport and replace it with an Estuary hub, said Heathrow had not taken population rises into account and was too optimistic about technological advances making planes quieter.

The new noise figures come as the Government is tomorrow due to publish its plans for a short-term fix to the aviation capacity crisis short of a new runway. Heathrow also published indi- cative flight paths which it says proves its case that an airport can be expanded in tandem with noise reduction.

Matt Gorman, Heathrow sustainability director, said: “The CAA’s modelling shows we can cut aircraft noise while delivering the long-haul flights Britain needs to prosper. The flight paths we are publishing are indicative only and will be subject to debate and consultation if a third runway is approved.”

John Stewart, of anti-expansion group HACAN, said: “I remain very sceptical about these claims that as many as 45 per cent fewer people will be affected by noise, despite flight numbers increasing by 280,000 a year.

“My feeling is these numbers have been rushed out to counter Boris Johnson’s potential damaging recent revelations that Heathrow’s previous noise claims were based on the third runway being just a third full.

“I suspect the only way they can cut the numbers affected by 45 per cent is to concentrate planes over particular communities so as to free others from noise. It’s the noise ghetto solution.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/third-runway-at-heathrow-to-cut-noise-levels-for-up-to-325000-9604772.html

Thousands of Londoners would hear a plane “every 90 seconds for 13 hours/day” if Heathrow 3rd runway is built

‘One plane every 90 seconds for 13 hours if Heathrow third runway is built’

Heathrow’s list of documents submitted to the Airports Commission is at

Third runway at Heathrow ‘to cut noise levels for up to 325,000’

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