Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
New Heathrow runway would mean at least half those affected by noise would only get 4 hours respite per day
At the evidence session of the Environmental Audit Committee on the environmental impacts of a 3rd Heathrow runway, Daniel Moylan - who is the chief aviation advisor to the Mayor, Boris Johnson, gave evidence. He said a huge number of people under Heathrow flight paths would find their period of respite from the noise reduced, from around half the day (taken as 8 hours, 7am to 11pm) now to just a quarter of the day (ie. 4 hours). His words: "Davies admits that the respite period would on average fall to a third of the flying day rather than half at the moment. But our analysis shows that while that figure of a third, as an average, is about right, for some communities, for over half the communities, this will fall to 25% of the day only. And for the others it will be 50%. So the 30% is an average, and includes 50% of the affected population - a larger population - having only 25% of the flying day as respite....That is something people are not aware of that is coming down the road at them." Currently for approaches, the airport operates runway alternation, so (with some exceptions) planes land on just one of the runways for half a day, changing to the other at 3pm each day. That gives about half a day of respite. If there is a new runway, this would have to be used in mixed mode, for landings and take offs. Half a day of respite would not be possible.
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John Redwood MP writes to Heathrow & NATS asking for flight paths to revert to earlier pattern
John Redwood, the MP for Wokingham - about 20 km west of Heathrow - has written to Heathrow, to NATS and to Wokingham Council, about the impact of Heathrow aircraft noise on his constituency. He says: "Last year, NATS began experimenting with new trial routes to Heathrow. These were discontinued early as a result of the new noise levels, which were intolerable. However, the routes did not revert to the old pattern. What seems to happen now is a concentration of all flights in narrow corridors instead of spreading them out, creating air motorways over my constituency which cause big disturbance and unhappiness. As a result, this issue has become very contentious locally. It would be better if NATS could go back to the system operated prior to last year’s ill-conceived experiments. This would help to reduce the concentrated noise." He says to the Council: "I think it is important for the council to be aware that this issue is very contentious locally and become more so in recent months. It appears that there is now a concentration of flights in narrow corridors instead of spreading them out, creating air motorways over the local area which cause big disturbance and unhappiness." He says it "would also be helpful if planes entering and departing Heathrow adopted a steeper take-off and landing approach to enable them to fly higher." He has expressed guarded support for the idea of another runway in the past.
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CAA data show nearly 6,000 more people in Heathrow’s 57 Leq loud noise contour in 2014 than in 2013
The Evening Standard reports that recent CAA data show that over 270,000 people - a 13-year high - suffered from the sound of Heathrow planes overhead last year, which was a rise of nearly 6,000 on 2013. This was also the highest number affected by noise since 2001. In theory, planes are supposed to be getting marginally less noisy, as new models slowly replace older ones. But as planes get ever larger, they are noisier than smaller planes they replace - and these planes are perceived to fly lower. The figures may indicate that Heathrow's claims it can add a runway and even reduce total noise are not credible. The Airports Commission is likely to have been over-optimistic in presuming that would be possible. London’s population is growing and the CAA analysis shows the number of people suffering noise, using the Government’s preferred measurement, the 57 Leq noise contour, from Heathrow planes rose from around 264,250 to over 270,000 people, though the size of the contour fell from 107.3 km sq to 104.9 km sq. The numbers within the 57 Leq contour fell from 1988 to 2001, but this trend failed to continue over the following years.
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Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill says Heathrow has to pay for surface access work resulting from a 3rd runway
Adam Afriyie has reported that, in response to a question he asked the government's aviation minister, Robert Goodwill, the Government ruled out spending public money for the related surface access costs of a Heathrow 3rd runway. If correct, this is a huge blow to Heathrow, as their surface access costs could be £5 billion just to tunnel the M25 and perhaps up to £10 -15 billion more, for other road and rail improvements, according to Transport for London. In response to the parliamentary question Robert Goodwill said: “In terms of surface access proposals, the Government has been clear that it expects the scheme promoter to meet the costs of any surface access proposals that are required as a direct result of airport expansion and from which they will directly benefit.” Adam Afriyie said: "It is welcome news that the Government has ruled out paying the costs of upgrading the railways and local roads or moving or tunnelling the M25. If Heathrow won’t pay and the Government won’t pay, then the 3rd runway is already dead in the water ...It is quite right that the public should not be made to fork out up to £20 billion of subsidies to a private company which refuses to pay its own costs of expansion." In July John Holland-Kaye said Heathrow would not pay.
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Leaders of Hillingdon, Richmond and Wandsworth councils tell PM that flight path consultation must precede Government’s runway support
The leaders of Hillingdon, Richmond & Wandsworth councils have written to the Prime Minister to warn that signalling Government support for a 3rd Heathrow runway would be unlawful unless the new flight paths needed re first subject to public consultation. The leaders also highlight a series of flaws and omissions in the Airports Commission's final report, that recommends a Heathrow runway. They point out that by law, changes to London's airspace require open consultation. Therefore a decision to expand Heathrow would pre-empt this statutory process. Approving a runway clearly infers the associated flight paths will also be approved. The Airports Commission, though working on Heathrow's plans for 2 years, failed to identify the location of its new flight paths, let alone consult on them. Instead the Commission's final report, which costs tax payers in the region of £25m, asks ministers to approve a 3rd Heathrow runway with no details at all on where flight paths would be. That is key information, needed to assess the areas to be worst affected. The local councils have now pointed out that the Commission's recommendation is directing the Government down a legal cul-de-sac and has urged the PM to dismiss the report.
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Corbyn said to be ready to oppose Heathrow runway, partly due to air pollution
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to make air pollution a key campaign issue over the next year which could have “significant implications” for expansion at Heathrow. Writing to senior Labour members, he warned that a 3rd Heathrow runway could worsen the government’s “dreadful record on air quality”. He said "more than 50,000 premature deaths a year" are estimated to be caused by air pollution, and this has been brought into sharp relief by the VW diesel deceit story. A party source said: “Jeremy is clear that he expects Labour to now oppose a third runway at Heathrow. It is now up to the Government to decide what to do.” The decision by Labour to officially come out against a third runway will be a major stumbling block for Heathrow expansion. Jeremy Corbyn campaigned against Heathrow expansion during the Labour leadership contest. However, when the Airports Commission recommendation of a Heathrow runway was announced on 1st June, Labour’s then shadow Transport Secretary Michael Dugher suggested Labour would back this, as did Harriet Harman.
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Heathrow has already begun its initial tendering process, for work on its anticipated runway
Construction News reports that Heathrow Airports Holdings Ltd has begun the tendering process for work on its £17.6 billion third runway, despite the government not yet having decided on a runway, or any of the long process stages having even been started. Heathrow has called for expressions of interest from firms on 4 areas of work ahead of main construction getting under way. These are: programme management; information management; construction advice; and design and technical advice. Interested firms have until 16 October to respond, after which Heathrow will compile a short-list and invite these companies to tender in November. A decision on preferred bidders is expected to be made in the early part of 2016. It is understood that the decision to begin tendering early has been taken "so that Heathrow’s supply chain is ready to begin work as soon as a decision is made by the government." Back in July, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye announced that the airport would begin tendering for work in December. So this appears to have been brought forward. "Currently, Heathrow is aiming to have spades in the ground by 2020 with a completion set for 2025." They may be getting somewhat ahead of themselves ....
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Sunday Times exposé cites “potentially dangerous levels of air pollution” at Pippins School in Poyle
The Sunday Times has done an analysis of data from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, Defra’s pollution database, showing levels of NO2 across the UK. Defra estimates the NO2 emitted in each square kilometre of the UK by measuring the density of roads, rail and industry. Although the inventory does not measure the concentration of NO2 in the air, it is a strong indicator of potentially high levels. In some cases, The Sunday Times has been able to use readings of NO2 levels from monitoring stations to confirm high levels. They looked at schools, and found that Pippins School in Poyle, close to Heathrow, is the second most polluted school in the UK. It had 205 tonnes of NO2 per square km, per year. Another school in the area, Cranford Primary School, was the 5th highest (165 tonnes NO2/km2/year). The school that got the very worst readings may be adversely affected by a diesel train depot nearby. The study looked at schools with levels above 25 tonnes per square kilometre, which is six times the national average. Two schools in Yorkshire, near the M1, with levels of NO2 of around 50 tonnes per km sq will close soon, and the pupils will be re-located, as the location is deemed too unhealthy.
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At London rally, John McDonnell hits out at “lying” aviation officials over Heathrow claims
At the huge anti-Heathrow 3rd runway rally, Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell lashed out at 'lying' aviation officials, saying 'poisoned' air is killing residents in the area. He said the aviation industry has 'consistently lied' about expanding the UK's largest airport. He said if it would be 'down to people power' to prevent the 3rd runway being built, if the expansion is backed by Parliament and court appeals against the decision fail. "I will welcome back to my constituency, climate camp and all those demonstrators that will take action to prevent this runway being built."... He said in his Hayes & Harlington constituency, next door to Heathrow: "... at the moment, people are literally dying. They're dying because the air has already been poisoned by the aviation industry. ...They've promised us after every inquiry, no further expansion. They are liars. They have consistently lied to us. They now tell us if they get a 3rd runway, there'll be no increase in noise and no increase in pollution. They lie every time to us." He said up to 4,000 homes would be demolished, or rendered unliveable in his constituency. Both main mayoral candidates, Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan, also addressed the rally, and spoke about the seriousness of the risk to ever worse air quality - with its health implications.
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Huge rally against Heathrow 3rd runway demonstrates intense cross-party opposition in London
A huge rally against a 3rd Heathrow runway, attended by one to two thousand activists who are determined not to let it ever be built, They heard impassioned speeches from all the main London mayoral candidates, who reiterated the extent of the environmental impacts - noise and air pollution in particular. The rally sent a clear message to government that a runway is deeply opposed, and would be fought strenuously. The repeated chant at the rally was: "No ifs, no buts. No 3rd runway." Zac said: "We know that our air pollution problems in London would be unsolvable if we expand Heathrow. And we know it requires the demolition of more than 1,000 homes. It is a catastrophic price to pay. I think we have won the arguments, I think we are winning the campaign. The environmental case against a third runway is devastating and makes expansion both legally and morally impossible. The economic case has completely disintegrated." Sadiq said: "It would be madness to build a new runway. People who care about London and the health of London, who worry about the noise, who worry about the infrastructure, are united against it." John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor and Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, said: "In my constituency at the moment, people are literally dying. They're dying because the air has already been poisoned by the aviation industry."