Birmingham Airport 6-month flight path trials – due to runway extension – to begin in May
It has been confirmed that controversial ‘alternative flight plans’ proposed by Birmingham Airport are to be trialled from May, for 6 months. Birmingham Airport has been developing an Airspace Change Proposal, required for a change to departure flight paths to the south of the Airport due to the runway extension. After considering two viable options in detail – and following extensive public consultations – the airport submitted its preferred route, Option 5, to the CAA in August 2013, saying it believed the overall environmental and operational attributes of both routes considered (Options 5 and 6) were ‘very marginal’. Perhaps due to news about the fury that has been generated in the Warham area by a new Gatwick flight path trial, Birmingham airport has agreed to carry out trials of both options, in order to better understand the actual impact of the proposed changes rather than theoretical modelling. The proposals sparked outrage in the affected villages when they were revealed last year. A final decision is expected in spring 2015 and the airport has reiterated that the trials are ‘not a further consultation’.
.
Tweet
Birmingham Airport flight path trials set to begin
A Boeing 747 takes off at Birmingham International Airport. The proposed runway extension would allow more long-haul flights and the high-speed rail link would ease congestion at Heathrow.
CONTROVERSIAL ‘alternative flight plans’ proposed by Birmingham Airport are to be trialled from May – it was confirmed yesterday (Wednesday).
Since summer 2012 the Airport has been developing an Airspace Change Proposal, required for a change to departure flight paths to the south of the Airport created by the new runway extension.
After considering two viable options in detail – and following extensive public consultations – the airport submitted its preferred route, Option 5, to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in August last year saying it believed the overall environmental and operational attributes of both routes considered (Options 5 and 6) were ‘very marginal’.
Following its submission the airport continued to receive high levels of feedback from the local community and was advised other UK airports have been undertaking trials of flight paths.
As a result it has now agreed to carry out trials of both options to help bosses understand the actual impact of the proposed changes rather than theoretical modelling.
The trials – which will take place over six months from May 1 – will allow RNAV (precise navigation) procedures to be tested objectively to assess the impact.
The proposals sparked outrage in the affected villages when they were revealed last year – with Balsall Common residents and campaigners calling for the creation of the alternative Option 6 to push aircraft further away from the village towards Hampton and Barston.
In its decision to adopt Option 5 the Airport said it chose Option 5 because its centreline ‘avoids the village of Barston and flies mostly over open countryside rather than directly over populated areas’.
It added the route was positioned closer to Balsall Street East in Balsall Common, but that the area was further out from the airport so aircraft would be higher.
David Read, Barston Parish Councillor and the village’s representative on the Airport Consultative Committee, said Option 5 would be noisier for everyone – but only marginally, while Option 6 would see planes flying straight over the centre of Barston at low altitudes.
“It is this reason Option 5 was chosen in the first place and I don’t really see how the trials will change this.”
He added that he hoped the airport would have noise monitors in each of the villages during the trials to ensure fair representation.
“Barston had a noise monitor installed last summer to keep records for any future monitoring so we will be able to provide a before and after view of the noise levels in the village,” he said.
A final decision on the plans is expected next spring and the airport has reiterated that the trials are ‘not a further consultation’.
.
.
.
.
There does not yet appear to be an opening date for the runway extension, other than “spring 2014”.
23 January 2014
Birmingham Airport’s re-development programme, one of the country’s top 40 infrastructure projects, has entered its final stage before completion.
Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and chair of the Infrastructure Committee, welcomed progress on the scheme during a visit to the airport today.
Work on the final stage of the project, a £40 million 400 metre extension of the runway, is well under-way and due to complete in the next few months. The Minister brought this closer to completion by starting the last section of paving on the runway extension. The longer runway will allow larger aircraft to operate from the airport and support more direct long-haul flights to destinations currently out of reach, such as Brazil, China, and the West Coast of the USA.
The runway expansion is just one part of a long-term investment programme, worth over £100 million, at the airport. The earlier stages have already delivered a new combined terminal, a new maintenance hangar for larger aircraft and a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower. The airport development has been funded through private sector investment, and will support the airport’s long term ambition of quadrupling the annual number of passengers to 36 million.
http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta/news/2014/01/chief-secretary-visits-birmingham-airport.aspx
.
.
.
Earlier
Villages at war over change to Birmingham Airport flightpath
- [The two villages (Balsall Common is larger than Barston) are to the south east of Birmingham airport’s runway. Barston is slightly to the west-north-west of Balsall. Map ]
The battle broke out after people living in Balsall Common persuaded the airport to put forward an alternative scheme to sending long haul jets directly over their homes.
Plans to change Birmingham Airport’s flightpath have left residents in two villages at war.
The battle broke out after people living in Balsall Common persuaded the airport to put forward an alternative scheme to sending long haul jets directly over their homes.
But the different route would mean the flightpath going directly over the centre of nearby village Barston.
Now Barston residents are furious that the new flights to China and America will leave their peace shattered.
Birmingham Airport’s period of consultation over the two schemes, which was extended after the changes, ends today.
The flight paths are changing because of a runway extension at the airport allowing long haul jets to use to fly in and out.
Rowena Lyon, Chair of the Barston Association, said: “It’s outrageous. Barston and Hampton-in-Arden have suffered enough.
“The airport’s original choice has an enormous detrimental effect on both our villages but this new option is completely unacceptable.
“It will take the flight path straight through the centre of Barston’s conservation area and many listed and historically important buildings.”
The flightpath changes are all part of plans by the airport to expand in an effort to compete with London rivals Heathrow and Gatwick.
The larger village of Balsall Common quickly formed an Airport Action Group after the public consultation was launched with only one flight path – over their homes.
Barston – which only has a population of around 500 residents – is lobbying the airport to go with this original option.
Airport chiefs will now have to decide on their preferred route and submit it to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Rowena added: “Balsall Common has a highly organised campaign, which we in Barston can’t match. We can’t compete in the numbers game.
“The first proposed new route would only have affected the outskirts of Balsall Common. And the planes would be approximately 1,000 ft higher.
“All this just to appease a few vocal protesters on the edge of Balsall Common.”
Balsall Common spokesman David Ellis said of the new option: “Our solution pushed the departure flights further away from the arrival flight path.
“After 2.2 miles we suggested a turn to the right as you leave the airport to take it out over open countryside.
“The only populated area it goes over is Barston because the airport insist they can’t do the right turn until 2.2 miles. We’ve lost the Hampton turn meaning it will be closer to Hampton-in-Arden.
“But without this change we would be hit twice, by incoming and outgoing flights.”
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/villages-war-over-change-birmingham-3866700
.
.