Knutsford Council urged to lobby Manchester airport over possible increase in night flights

Councillors in Knutsford are planning to lobby Manchester Airport on concerns about more night flights over the town. Knutsford is only a few kilometres from the end of the runway. Map.  A Knutsford councillor, who is on the airport’s community relations team, was informed by the airport’s management that Terminal 2 is set to double in size, with plans for more night flights to cope with increased traffic.  This will affect Knutsford.  Currently, an agreement curtails night flights – take offs and landings – but circumstances will change with both the expansion and the ending of the current arrangements in 2017. The council need to lobby on details of the timing of those night flights. The airport statement gave the usual bland assurances about “improving the passenger and airline experience” and having controls  on night noise that are “amongst the toughest in the UK ” and balancing the “interests of our local communities and the demand from our passengers to fly.” Sadly, the benefit tot he airlines and passengers generally trumps the interests of the residents. Manchester Airport allows a large number of night flights already – with a limit of around 11,000 per year (7% of the total flights). That can work out to more than 45 per night, in the period from 23:30 to 06.00.
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Council urged to lobby airport over possible increase in night time flights over Knutsford

22.4.2015 (Knutsford Guardian)

COUNCILLORS in Knutsford are planning to lobby Manchester Airport bosses over concerns about more night flights over the town.

Worries surfaced after a Knutsford councillor, who is on the airport’s community relations team, met with management last month and was told Terminal 2 is set to double in size, with plans for more night flights to cope with increased traffic.

Currently, an agreement curtails night-time flights in and out of the airport, but circumstances will change with both the expansion and the ending of the current arrangements in 2017.

Cllr Tony Dean told a meeting of Knutsford Town Council it would lead to more flights and disturbance to Knutsford residents.

He explained: “Terminal 2 will double in size and that will mean more night flights.

“The current restrictions and agreements run out in the next two years, so as a council we need to lobby when those night-time flights will be and so they are not keeping residents awake.”

The Guardian asked the airport specific questions, including which areas of Cheshire would be affected by the expansion of T2 and how the current restrictions on night-time flights would change when the current agreement runs out.

A spokesman said: “At Manchester Airport we continually assess ways in which we could enhance our infrastructure so as to further improve the passenger and airline experience.

“Our controls on night noise are amongst the toughest in the UK and balance the interests of our local communities and the demand from our passengers to fly. Retaining this balance will always be a significant priority.”

What do you think about the expansion of terminal 2 and the possible ramifications it could have for Knutsford? Emailyourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk.

http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/12908621.Council_urged_to_lobby_airport_over_possible_increase_in_night_time_flights_over_Knutsford

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Manchester Airport has just under 163,000 air transport movements (flights) in 2014.

7% of that is  11,410.

Divided by the number of nights in the year, it averages out at 31 flights per night – with night being considered to be 23.30 to 06.00.



 

Manchester Airport’s Night Noise policy   2012 – 2017

http://www.magworld.co.uk/magweb.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Manchester+Night+Noise.pdf/$FILE/Manchester+Night+Noise.pdf

Some extracts: 

Policies NN1-NN3 cover the period 23:30-05:59.

This policy ensures that the number of night movements is capped at no more than 7% of total movements of the airport. This obligation is part of a legal agreement with Cheshire East Council.

An essential part of our night-period noise controls is a system of classifying aircraft according to their ‘quota count’. The system gives each aircraft a ‘quota count’ depending on the noise they generate on take-off and when landing (based on the noise levels measured at the time that aircraft was first introduced).

NN1 Night movement limits will not exceed 7% of the Airport’s total movements.

NN2 The QC [Quota Count] points budget for each Summer/Winter season up to Summer 2017 will be fixed at 7000 points for Summer and 3000 points for Winter. Points that are unused in any season shall not be carried forward to subsequent seasons.

NN3 Seasonal movement limits of 10150 (Summer) and 3895 (Winter) will be maintained until Summer 2017.  [Summer is start of April to end of October – the period between clock changes].

NN4 Between 23:00 and 06:59 no QC16 or QC8 aircraft will be allowed to arrive or depart. NN5 Between 23:30 and 05:59 no QC4 aircraft will be scheduled to depart.

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Noise penalties;

NN6 Between 23.00 and 06.59, financial penalties will be applied to aircraft that exceed the following noise levels on departure (monitored at 6.5km from the start of roll). 23.00 – 23.29 82 dB(A) 23.30 – 05.59 81 dB(A) 06.00 – 06.59 82 dB(A) A minimum penalty of £750 will be applied for the first decibel by which the noise level is exceeded. A further £150 will be added for each decibel in excess of the noise limit.

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