Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Stop Stansted Expansion says DfT plans on night flights do not go nearly far enough
Following the publication of the DfT's night flight regulation consultation, SSE is urging urging local district, parish and town councils and individual local residents to respond, to try to get the noise impacts of Stansted night-time flights reduced. Stansted currently has permission for 12,000 night flights a year, more than twice as many as are permitted at Heathrow. The 12,000 annual limit applies only to the 6½ hours from 11.30pm to 6.00am whereas the normal definition of 'night' is the 8 hours from 11.00pm to 7.00am. Moreover, a large number of Stansted’s night flights are large, noisy cargo aircraft, many of which are very old. Unsurprisingly, these give rise to a disproportionately high level of noise complaints. SSE welcomes the DfT intention to remove the current exemption for less noisy aircraft and adjust the movements limit accordingly - but the DfT proposes to maintain the present night limit on Stansted aircraft movements. The number of exempt aircraft has been increasing, and they need to be included in totals. SSE wants an unequivocal Government commitment to phase out all night flights at Stansted by 2030, except in the case of genuine emergencies. SSE also wants the annual flight limit to apply, not just from 11.30pm to 6.00am, but from 11.00pm to 7.00am, so that ‘night’ truly means ‘night’.
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Letter by Chair of Richmond Heathrow Campaign sets out important key arguments against 3rd runway
In a letter to the Richmond & Twickenham Times, Chairman of the Richmond Heathrow Campaign, Peter Willan, sets out succinctly some of the main reasons why there does NOT need to be a 3rd Heathrow runway. Just a few of the points are: any gain in connectivity due to the runway comes at the cost from another UK airport; international-to-international transfer passengers use over 30% of Heathrow’s capacity and are estimated to use 50% of a 3rd runway; these transfer passengers provide little economic value to the UK, and do not leave the airport; rather than transfer passengers making "thin" (ie low passenger volume) routes more viable, in reality most are on the "thick" routes that are very profitable, eg. to the USA, largely fro leisure; just 2% of transfers are on "thin" long-haul routes and less than 10 "thin" routes have any transfers; the Chancellor should remove the tax exemption (they pay no APD) on international-to-international transfers and free up over 20% of Heathrow’s capacity for UK passengers to benefit the UK economy without environmental cost. Peter says the aviation sector is one of the least taxed sectors of the UK economy., paying no fuel duty and no VAT - a massive subsidy; in addition, Heathrow receives tax relief on its large debt to the benefit of the equity, 90% owned overseas.
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New anti-3rd runway group forms in Hammersmith & Fulham, concerned about worse Heathrow impacts
A new campaign group fighting plans for a 3rd Heathrow runway has been formed in Hammersmith and Fulham. The "H&fnothirdrunway" group was formed by concerned local residents Victoria Timberlake and Christina Smyth. Christina was chairman of Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s resident-led commission on airport expansion, which submitted a 56-page report on the 3rd runway proposals to the Airports Commission. The group is urging residents to attend its first public meeting on January 30th, an anyone is welcome to come along, whether they are members or not."It’s time to get involved.” [At Holy Innocents Church, Paddenswick Road, Hammersmith and begins at 7.30pm] Hammersmith and Fulham Council has repeatedly opposed a 3rd Heathrow runway. In July 2015 the Council Leader, Steve Curran said the runway would have an adverse impact overall on the borough. Many local residents already have their sleep shattered by aircraft noise, which could only get worse. There would be extra pressure on our roads and more air pollution. "No amount of mitigation could make this acceptable. “We are urging the government not to support proposals which would be a nightmare for residents and make no financial sense.”
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Chris Grayling’s evidence to the Environmental Audit Cttee on noise – in relation to Heathrow runway
Chris Grayling was questioned by the Environmental Audit Committee on 30th November 2016. Below are the parts of the questions, and answers by Chris Grayling and Caroline Low (DfT) on the subject of noise. Mr Grayling reveals only a very partial understanding of the problems, and of the noise levels - and a somewhat trusting belief in how "quiet" new aircraft are going to be. He says the UK should not impose restrictions on noisy aircraft of developing countries, as it would be unfair on them. He admits that people who currently get "respite" from Heathrow noise will get less, and there will have to be new flight paths - means unknown numbers of people will get noise for the first time, and not a lot of "respite". His aspiration is for no scheduled flights for six and a half hours per night. He believes (mistakenly) that slightly steeper landings would help. He manages to repeat the mantra that despite 50% more flights "noise levels will be lower than they are at the moment." He places unjustified trust in an "independent noise authority (or commission)" sorting out a lot of insoluble noise problems in future. Much that he could not give proper replied to depends on consultations in 2017. He will "look at" the issue of when insulation of affected homes is done - over up to 20 years, rather than right away. A worrying performance, for those affected by Heathrow noise.
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‘Miracle on the Hudson’ 2009 legacy: 70,000 birds killed around New York airports since then
On 15th January 2009 a US Airways Flight took off from New York's LaGuardia, soon hit a flock of big Canada geese, lost both engines - but almost miraculously landed safely on the Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived. Birds took the blame for the incident, and have been paying for it with their lives ever since. An Associated Press analysis of bird-killing programs at the New York City area's 3 major airports found that nearly 70,000 gulls, starling, geese and other birds have been slaughtered, mostly by shooting and trapping, since the 2009 accident, and it is not clear whether those killings have made the skies safer. Advocates for the birds say officials should find other, more effective ways to protect aircraft. Between January 2009 and October 2016, of the 70,000 birds killed, there were 28,000 seagulls, followed by about 16,800 European starlings, nearly 6,000 brown-headed cowbirds and about 4,500 mourning doves, and 1,830 Canada geese. The FAA say of the known birds that caused damage to planes, in 249 incidents, 2009 - 2016, 54 were seagulls, 12 were osprey, 11 were double-crested cormorants and 30 were geese; 69 unknown. Airport officials try to keep birds out of a 5-mile radius around the airports' runways.
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Transport Secretary to discuss 2nd Brighton mainline BML2 linking south coast to Canary Wharf
The Brighton Mainline 2 (BML2) consortium has long campaigned for a 2nd railway line between the south coast and London. The idea is for a have a line running from Brighton east of the current main line, going via Uckfield and Crowborough and Oxted, to Croydon, and then on to Canary Wharf and ultimately to Stansted. The campaign says tht the BML2 line would "link into Thameslink 2 between Stratford and Lewisham, providing a rail link between Gatwick and Stansted airports (“StanWick”) and opening up a rail corridor between East Anglia and Sussex, Surrey and Kent ..." And "More services could be run between London and the South Coast, whilst Gatwick airport could have its rail connections speeded-up and increased by means of the Stanwick Express dedicated shuttle services operating between Gatwick and Stansted through Canary Wharf and Stratford International." Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport, has agreed to meet with the BML2 campaigners to discuss the plans, a second Brighton mainline. The group has recently revealed a group of heavyweight overseas investors had stated their intention to fund the scheme, and had a particular interest in linking the rail line from Brighton to Canary Wharf. The consortium is now prepared to undertake its design and construction and will put its case to the government.
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Comment from Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign on night flights plan – same number but less noise
New rules for night flights for the next five years have been announced by the Government. Chairman of GACC, Brendon Sewill, said: "Gatwick has more night flights than any other London airport. We are disappointed that there is to be virtually no reduction in the number of flights. People across Britain are kept awake by aircraft and there is growing evidence that this has a serious impact on health, so GACC’s aim is to see a ban on all night flights." GACC, however, welcomes and supports the suggestion by the DfT that the permitted level of noise at night (the noise quota) at Gatwick may be cut by 20% over the next five years. That will not only have an obvious advantage but it will force airlines to buy and to use quieter aircraft – and that will also have a benefit during the day. But we need to ensure the aviation industry does not try to weaken this restriction. GACC welcomes the proposal to reduce the noise quotas to the current level of use: that will not make any difference to the current situation but will prevent a potential sizeable increase in future years. It is something that GACC has argued for in the past. GACC will be consulting its members on its detailed response to the consultation and welcomes their views.
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Gatwick has more night flights than Heathrow or Stansted – and that will continue for next 5 years
The Government Department for Transport (DfT) has released the long awaited night flight consultation documents (ends 28th February). The number of flights between 23:00 and 07.00 would not be reduced. The current number, and the one proposed for the next 5 years, is 3,250 in the winter and 11,200 in the summer, making an annual total of 14,450 which averages as 40 per night through the year. There will be a slight reduction in the quota count, as it is not being used - so the new figure will not change anything. This will be a reduction of at least 345 in the winter to 1655 [from 2000] and 1,330 in the summer to 4870 [from 6200]. Local campaign group CAGNE has commented about how unsatisfactory the proposals for Gatwick are. Sally Pavey, Chair of CAGNE said: “We would like to see a total ban on Gatwick night flights as this is a major cause of complaints we receive from communities. Summer nights especially when residents want to enjoy their gardens and have windows open on hot evenings.” CAGNE says it is regrettable that the government seems to "accept the economic case over the health implications of allowing night flights to continue.” Gatwick plans to continue to grow at perhaps 10% per year, meaning continually increasing noise.
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DfT publishes disappointing consultation on night flight regime at Heathrow, Gatwick & Stansted
The long awaited consultation on Night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted has now finally been published, for the 5 years to October 2022 (well before any new runway). It has been delayed for 3 years. Many people whose sleep is disturbed by night flights had been hoping for real prospects of the number of night flights being reduced. However, the consultation (that ends on 28th February) merely suggests keeping the numbers of flights between 23:30 and 06:00 the same at Heathrow and Gatwick, but increasing the number at Stansted. ["Night" is defined as 2300-0700 local time]. At Heathrow the number would remain at 2,550 in the winter and 3,250 in the summer (seasons based on dates the clocks change to/from summer time). That is an annual total of 5,800 which averages as 16 per night through the year. The figure at Gatwick is 3,250 in the winter and 11,200 in the summer, making an annual total of 14,450 which averages as 40 per night through the year. However, the DfT proposes reducing the total noise quota (points based on the noise of planes at night) at Heathrow Airport by at least 43% in the winter and 50% in the summer, ie. a reduction of at least 1,740 in the winter to 2,340 (from 4080) and 2,560 in the summer to 2,540 (from 5100). The cut in quota count at Gatwick would be 17% in winter and 21% in summer., ie. a reduction of at least 345 in the winter to 1655 (from 2000) and 1,330 in the summer to 4870 (from 6200).
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Australia: Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek signed off by Federal Government
Sydney already has a large airport, near the coast, but in April 2014 the Australian Federal Government designated Badgerys Creek as the site for the Second Sydney Airport. It is being called Western Sydney airport, and it is inland and is within 7 kilometres of the Blue Mountains National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is be a one runway airport with no night time curfew - flights 24 hours. In November 2014 a set of 40 environmental conditions, looking at issues such as biodiversity, noise and heritage, were set out. The government thinks they can be achieved, and the airport can proceed. The government has approved the airport plan, with the minister giving determination on 12th December. The next step in the process was for the federal government to issue the Notice of Intention, and this was announced on 20th December 2016. "Under the contract, Sydney Airport Group would be required to build the airport to the required standard—including a 3,700 metre runway and a terminal with capacity for 10 million passengers a year. It sets out key milestones—with earth moving works to commence by late 2018 and airport operations to commence by 2026." Some parts of the work have now started. The airport might be complete by around 2025 to 2027.