Plan to redirect Stansted Airport departures to reduce Heathrow congestion
Date added: 17 June, 2014
Air traffic control service NATS proposes to redirect the majority of Stansted departures from an established southerly route, to an existing route to the east of the airport. “At the moment, departures from Stansted heading towards the South East are kept lower for longer when compared to the route heading east because of Heathrow arrivals.” The changes would only affect daytime departures. This is to reduce congestion above Heathrow. Arrivals are not affected. NATS has started a 12-week consultation on the proposals. Martin Peachey, noise advisor for Stop Stansted Expansion campaign group said: “We basically support the proposal because NATS say it should reduce the amount of people flown in the day and reduce CO2 emissions. It would remove day time departures for a large area to the south but it would double the amount of flights to the east so that would need to be carefully studied. …. There will be winners and losers.” The changes are part of the NATS’ London Airspace Management Programme (LAMP).
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SSE has published its Guidance for the current NATS consultation for Stansted Departure Routes. It is on the SSE website via link
http://stopstanstedexpansion.com/documents/SSE_GUIDANCE_FOR_NATS_DEPARTURE_ROUTE_PROPOSAL_Final.pdf
The effect of the change would be worse for people living locally to the east of Stansted Airport under the flight paths. The benefits would be gained by the airlines and people much further out. And the fuel/CO2 savings are trivial – less than 1%.
Stop Stansted Expansion advises caution on changes to Stansted departure routes
18.6.2014 (SSE)
Whilst welcoming the consultation launched on Monday (16 June) by NATS on changing the use of existing departure routes from Stansted Airport, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has urged caution, insisting that there should be clear and compelling benefits for local residents before any changes are implemented. The proposed changes affect routes to the south-east and east of Stansted which account for approximately half of all departures.
The consultation closes on 8 September and SSE is urging local communities to the south east and east of the airport to take a close interest in the consultation and make their views known.
The proposed changes involve switching daytime traffic from the existing south-east (Dover) departure route to the existing east (Clacton) departure route from both directions of the runway.
The consultation does not involve changes to the airspace structure and no other departure or arrival routes are affected. NATS believes that the result would reduce the overall number of people regularly overflown in the day as well as reducing CO2 emissions. In addition, NATS says that switching to the Clacton route would allow aircraft to achieve a more continuous climb than possible on the Dover route leading to more efficient operation.
This proposal would remove daytime departures for a large area to the south-east of the airport but double the number of flights towards the east coast. This intensification of flights to the east would need to be carefully studied for impact on the local communities since this largely rural region enjoys low ambient noise levels. SSE lays emphasis on the importance of the consultation process and for NATS to ensure that local residents have the best information upon which to decide how the switching of daytime traffic would affect them.
SSE’s noise adviser Martin Peachey commented: “For people living near Stansted Airport and under flight paths, there would inevitably be winners and losers if these changes were to be implemented. SSE supports all efforts which reduce aircraft noise and carbon emissions in the local community, and before making its response, will be consulting its members to learn from them what they think of the proposed changes”.
FURTHER INFORMATION
NATS Departure Route Proposal at London Stansted Airport Consultation http://www.nats.aero/environment/consultations/lamp-stansted-sid-consultation/
Martin Peachey, SSE Noise Adviser – martin@peachey2002.freeserve.co.uk
SSE Campaign Office, T 01279 870558; info@stopstanstedexpansion.com
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Plan to redirect Stansted Airport departures to reduce Heathrow congestion
Written by LUCY ROSS-MILLAR
16.6.2014 (Cambridge News)
A campaign group has welcomed plans to change the routes some flights use from Stansted Airport to reduce congestion above Heathrow Airport.
Air traffic control service NATS proposes to redirect the majority of Stansted departures from an established southerly route, to an existing route to the east of the airport.
The changes would only affect daytime departures.
Martin Peachey, noise advisor for Stop Stansted Expansion campaign group said: “We basically support the proposal because NATS say it should reduce the amount of people flown in the day and reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions.
“It would remove day time departures for a large area to the south but it would double the amount of flights to the east so that would need to be carefully studied.
“One of the things we enjoy around the airport is the low ambient noise levels against which aircraft can be clearly heard. There will be winners and losers.”
NATS has started a 12-week consultation on the proposals.
Mr Peachey added: “There are no proposed changes to the arrival routes.”
In a statement, NATS said the proposed changes would “improve efficiency and reduce delays in the South”.
Paul Haskins, general manager of NATS’ London Terminal Control, added: “At the moment, departures from Stansted heading towards the South East are kept lower for longer when compared to the route heading east because of Heathrow arrivals.
“Moving the majority of departure flights from one route to another will improve the flow of aircraft around the London system and greatly increase the efficiency of the airport’s operation.”
Chris Wiggan, Stansted Airport’s head of public affairs, said the airport supported NATS’ proposed airspace changes.
He said: “We recognise the importance of NATS’ London Airspace Management Programme (LAMP) that aims to re-design the airspace around London in order to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. We welcome the NATS-led consultation on the proposed airspace changes relating to Stansted which will enable people to find out more and give their views on the plans.
“The safe and efficient management of airspace in the south-east of England is an important issue and the consultation will provide an opportunity for people to play a full and active part in the process.”
To respond to the consultation, visit: www.nats.aero/lampstansted
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Plan-to-redirect-Stansted-Airport-departures-to-reduce-Heathrow-congestion-20140616154532.htm
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8th September – End of NATS consultation (started 9th June) on changes to Stansted flight paths. Details
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NATS details on this
http://www.nats.aero/news/nats-consultation-changes-stansted/
The consultation is primarily through the airport’s consultative committee and engagement is open to the public to respond via www.nats.aero/lampstansted.
16.6.2014 (BBC)
Stansted Airport – aerial view of main terminal building.
Redirecting departures to the east of the airport would decrease congestion over London, NATS said.
Plans to change the routes some flights use from Stansted Airport are being put forward to reduce congestion in the skies above Heathrow Airport.
Air traffic control service NATS proposes to redirect the majority of Stansted departures from an established southerly route, to an existing route to the east of the airport.
No new routes are proposed and changes would only affect daytime departures.
NATS has started a 12-week consultation on the proposals.
In a statement, NATS said the proposed changes would “improve efficiency and reduce delays in the South”.
‘Lower for longer’
Paul Haskins, general manager of NATS’ London Terminal Control, added: “At the moment, departures from Stansted heading towards the South East are kept lower for longer when compared to the route heading east because of Heathrow arrivals.
“Moving the majority of departure flights from one route to another will improve the flow of aircraft around the London system and greatly increase the efficiency of the airport’s operation.”
Chris Wiggan, Stansted Airport’s head of public affairs, said the airport supported NATS’ proposed airspace changes.
“The safe and efficient management of airspace in the South East of England is an important issue and the consultation will provide an opportunity for people to play a full and active part in the process,” he said.
Martin Peachey, a noise adviser for campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion, said: “For people living near Stansted, there will be winners and losers. But we support all efforts which reduce aircraft noise and carbon emission.”
He added the group would be giving its views to NATS and advising parish councils under the easterly route about how they can have their say.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-27866810
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From NATS website:
http://www.nats.aero/environment/consultations/lamp-stansted-sid-consultation/
NATS Departure Route Proposal at London Stansted Airport
This consultation is about a change to the use of existing London Stansted Airport departure routes heading to the southeast and east of the airport. It is driven by NATS at the air route network level, and supported by Stansted Airport which has a focus on low level routes in the vicinity of the airport.
This consultation is part of a wider programme to modernise the route system over London and the southeast; known as the London Airspace Management Programme or ‘LAMP’.
LAMP is being progressed by NATS which provides air traffic control for the route network across the whole of the UK. It involves collaboration between NATS and individual airports in the development of, and consultation on, changes to airspace management; collaboration ensures that modernisation achieves both network and local benefits.
What is this consultation about?
This consultation is for a proposal to formalise the use of existing alternative routes for Stansted Airport departures heading to the southeast and east.
No new routes are proposed – only different usage of existing routes. It would not involve changes to the airspace structure in the vicinity of Stansted Airport.
This consultation describes the proposal and its objectives in detail. It provides maps and data indicating areas that would see fewer overflights, and those that would see more.
Benefits
The benefits of this are:
- Reduced CO2
- Reduced delay (for Stansted and neighbouring airports)
- Reduction in the number of people regularly overflown during the day
Achieving these benefits would also mean that some people would be overflown more often.
Airlines may already choose to fly the alternative route, and are expected to do so increasingly in the future to avoid congestion. This proposal will ensure that the benefits of the alternative route are maximised.
The consultation opens 9am Monday 9th June and closes 9pm Monday 8th September 2014 (twelve weeks).
Consultation documents
http://www.nats.aero/environment/consultations/lamp-stansted-sid-consultation/
Posted: Tuesday, June 17th, 2014. Filed in News about Airports, Noise News, Recent News.
