AirportWatch | Teddington Action Group on the new NATS, airlines etc campaign

In their blog, the Teddington Action Group (TAG) say the intention of the aviation industry to vastly increase the numbers of flights, while miraculously reducing the number of people affected by noise, is nonsense. TAG says the Government needs to stop, take stock and remember that aviation demand must be managed rather than increased. Recently the ‘Sky’s the Limit’ campaign was launched by NATS (the partly privatised air navigation service) with airlines and airports. It hopes people will believe that the UK airspace is facing gridlock because the projected number of flights per year could be 3 million by 2030. But, don’t worry folks, the problem can be solved by airspace modernisation or the Future Airspace Strategy (FAS). By designing new routes with steeper climbs and descents, and aircraft flying routes with greater accuracy (i.e. concentrated flight paths), NATS will be able to pack in more and more flights (= more profit) – with fewer people impacted by noise. NATS keeps very quiet about the impact on those unfortunate enough to live under the concentrated routes whose lives and communities will be blighted. Do we really want children in schools round Heathrow having to shelter in earthquake huts in their playgrounds, to avoid the deafening roar of aircraft? The demand of frequent flyers for more choice and cheaper flights cannot justify the burden of noise inflicted on affected communities along Heathrow flight paths.
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For the benefit of anyone who missed the ‘Sky’s the Limit’ campaign launched last week by NATS (the partly privatised air navigation service), we are led to believe that the UK airspace is facing gridlock because the projected number of flights per year could be 3 million by 2030.

But don’t worry folks, the problem can be solved by airspace modernisation or the Future Airspace Strategy (FAS). By designing new routes with steeper climbs and descents, and aircraft flying routes with greater accuracy (i.e. concentrated flight paths), NATS will be able to pack in more and more flights with a miraculous reduction in the number of people impacted by noise. There will also be the possibility of multiple routes to distribute noise.

Who knew?

The solution to the problems of noise and air pollution is to cram more and more planes into streamlined superhighways and, of course, NATS gets paid by airlines for air traffic services… kerching! Under this divide and rule approach, NATS keeps very quiet about the impact on those unfortunate enough to live under the concentrated routes whose lives and communities will be blighted.

So, how’s it going elsewhere?

Gatwick Airport

In 2014, changes to flight paths were made as part of airspace modernisation. Some residents were so unhappy they took the Government to court over the changes and Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) wrote to MPs asking for a change in the law, to provide compensation to residents where they have been adversely affected by new flight paths. The Land Compensation Act 1973 provides compensation for people whose houses are devalued (according to a surveyor’s report) by the building of a new runway but not by new flight paths based on existing runways.

Frankfurt Airport

In 2011, a 4^th runway was opened adding new flightpaths and making changes to existing ones. Immediately people began protesting as the noise stopped them sleeping, prevented them enjoying their gardens, and their homes lost value – some by up to 40%. Every Monday evening for the last four years, between 600 and 3000 residents march through Terminal 1, banging and chanting.

USA

Airspace modernisation and concentrated flight paths introduced at Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC have resulted in lower, louder planes and many unhappy residents.

Boston – red lines show concentrated flight paths

Heathrow

The FAS has now been delayed while a new airspace and noise policy is developed. Aviation companies are trying to panic the Government by insisting time is running out. This is nonsense. The Government needs to stop, take stock and remember that its legally binding emissions commitments mean that aviation demand must be managed rather than increased.

There is considerable evidence that aircraft noise affects cardiovascular health, mental health and impacts children’s learning. What sort of world do we live in when children in schools round Heathrow must shelter in earthquake huts in their playgrounds, to avoid the deafening roar of aircraft?

The demand of frequent flyers for more choice and cheaper flights cannot be justified at the expense of our right to breathe clean air and to sleep undisturbed by aircraft noise.

This article first appeared in The Twickenham Times on 9th Dec 2016

http://www.teddingtonactiongroup.com/2016/12/15/skys-the-limit-or-pie-in-the-sky/

See earlier, by TAG,

TAG Responds to Matt Gorman on the Value of the HCNF

24.10.2016TAG says:We attended a Heathrow Community Noise Forum meeting in September and Matt Gorman wrote to community groups to explain the valuable work it felt it delivered in engaging with communities after several community groups expressed their frustration which prompted this response from the Director of Sustainability and Environment for Heathrow. We followed up to the response clearly stating that we needed to see action, rather than more talk. This has not been the first time that community groups have raised questions over the seriousness of the HCNF. Both letters are below.

Teddington Action Group on the new NATS, airlines etc campaign – “Sky’s the Limit” or Pie in the Sky?

Sky’s the Limit or Pie in the Sky?

And the NATS campaign

NATS, airports, airlines etc form new campaign “The Sky’s The Limit” to lobby for “modernised” UK airspace (ie. for 50% more planes)

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