Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Gatwick airport to consult for 6 weeks on 3 “options” for its 2nd runway
Gatwick airport is starting a public consultation, on 4th April (lasting 6 weeks - ending 16th May) on its runway submission to the Airports Commission. The consultation has 3 options (not the same 3 as the 3 options in the July submission). The first is the close runway (which is little use to the airport) 585 metres to the south; the second is a wide spaced runway, 1,045 metres to the south, for segregated mode (ie. take-offs on one runway, landings on the other); or the wide spaced runway, 1,045 metres to the south, for mixed mode (both take-offs and landing) - the profitable option. Gatwick airport very definitely wants the 3rd option. The airport says they want to "refine and improve" their plans. However, they have to submit their plan to the Commission on 9th May, so the timing of the consultation is odd as it will end after the plans are submitted. When Gatwick submitted their schemes to the Commission in July 2013, there were 3 options; a close runway about 600 metres south of the current runway, for "dependent segregated mode"; or a medium spaced runway about 750 metres south for "independent segregated mode"; or a wide spaced runway about 1,035 metres to the south of the current runway, for "independent mixed mode." Only the last option was short-listed by the Commission. There will be 16 exhibitions in towns and villages in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
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6 week consultation on Heathrow’s north west runway ends – criticised for not being transparent
Heathrow has been conducting a somewhat minimalistic 6-week consultation on its plan for a new runway to the north west. The questions in the consultation (only really 2 questions, with scope for further comments) are only on factors to take in to account, and whether more people should be affected by a slightly smaller amount of aircraft niose, if fewer people should be subjected to a larger amount (dispersal or concentration). The consultation is not whether those consulted want a new runway. The public consultation sessions are now ended. The consultation did not mention the Heathrow Hub proposal for an extension of the northern runway. A Heathrow spokesman said: “We will take your opinions into account as we look to refine our north-west runway proposal..." Those opposed to the plans have been critical of the consultation, saying it has been neither honest nor transparent. Heathrow has been disingenuous in making no effort to show where the landing flight paths would go, making informed comment impossible. Either way there will be more aircraft noise for many thousands of homes. Claims that the airport will have 20 - 30% more flights and be "quieter" (properly defined) are manifestly not logical.
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Belfast City Airport Watch say Belfast residents are furious about the token airport ‘action plan’
Residents affected by aircraft noise from George Best Belfast City Airport say they’re furious that the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment has approved an airport ‘noise action plan’ which doesn’t meet its own guidance. The five-year plan fails to outline how the airport is going to reduce noise for those residents worst affected, despite the fact that the Department says airport noise action plans should include such proposals. The Department’s decision comes as it’s emerged that the number of people seriously affected by aircraft noise (above 57 dB) has more than doubled within the space of a year – from 3,728 in 2012 to 8,247 last year. The figures, compiled by the airport’s own consultants, also show that more than 20,000 people were subjected to aircraft noise at a level which many observers consider to be significant (54dB). The airport’s draft noise action plan, published last summer, was sharply criticised by Belfast City Council which called on the airport to promise action to reduce noise for those residents who were most seriously affected. However, the airport has not heeded its call and the final version of the ‘action plan’ contains no such undertaking.
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Noise pollution fears over plans to extend Southampton Airport’s runway
Southampton Airport has plans for a 450 ft runway extension, that would enable larger and heavier planes to take off and land at the airport. However, this may not only increase the noise per plane, from heavier aircraft, but also the number of planes and passengers. Some local residents, living under flight paths, are concerned about the noise implications. A resident from Bitterne Park Residents’ Association, said she had only been told that the starter strip was to make taking off and landing safer at the terminal and questioned whether extending the runway was permitted. The airport's managing director said of the runway extension: “We are talking about a starter strip adding up to 150 metres to the existing runway, which is currently just over 1,700 metres, so it would be under 10% longer. We would like to see this in the next 10 years and before a major new runway is built elsewhere in the south east. I would anticipate this could be within 5 to 10 years." He said the investment in the extension "would not mean extra costs for passengers" and there would be no change to restrictions on operating hours at the airport.
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Doubt about the Gatwick scheme to pay off residents affected by noise from 2nd runway
Gatwick has offered, as part of its PR offensive to try to get opinion behind its 2nd runway, to pay £1,000 per year (the council tax on a Band A property) to 4,100 houses worst affected by noise, if it gets its runway. This is a very paltry sum compared to the negative impacts of the noise and disruption that would be caused. A local resident commented on the plan: "This is just a publicity stunt to try to get Crawley residents on board for a new runway. ....It sounds generous until you look at who gets it and how much we would lose....Even if we got the grant, it would take 150 years for the grant to cover the loss of value of our house. .... Gatwick Airport is trying to kid us that a new runway means lots of jobs for Crawley residents – but the jobs would attract incomers from the UK and the EU who would need new houses in an area that is desperately short of affordable homes.....We existing residents would see our carefully planned country town double in size to become a sprawling city spreading over green countryside..... I hope nobody will be fooled by Gatwick’s offer or by their promises of a golden future for Crawley.”
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After huge protest against Nantes airport on 22nd February, ACIPA reaffirms its values
At the huge protest in Nantes, on 22nd February, regrettably there was some violence, some rioting and a harsh response from the police and security services - with some injuries. The organisers of the event, ACIPA, have written of their regret about the disturbance, but their determination to continue the battle against the planned airport - in unspoiled French farmland. ACIPA say the want to thank all participants who responded overwhelmingly to the call for a peaceful and festive family event. They regret that protesters were unable to follow the planned route of the protest, and that there were some difficulties with the organisation of this huge demonstration. ACIPA reiterates its full support to the people injured and invites them to get in touch if necessary. They intend to continue protests in a peaceful and determined way, and are grateful to the support committees across France, helping in their fight. They continue to hope legal challenges on water and biodiversity loss will make the planned airport illegal.
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Southampton airport planning runway extension for heavier planes to further away destinations
Southampton Airport plans to build a 450 ft (137 metres) runway extension. The airport says this would enable heavier planes, to further afield holiday destinations, like Greece, southern Italy, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. There would also be routes to eastern European countries, as there is a large Eastern European population in and around Southampton and Portsmouth. It the airport gets it way, it could have a “starter strip” at the northern end of the 1,723m runway in 5 years. That would make the total 1,860 metres. The airport hopes to increase its number of passengers from some 1.7 million in 2013 (much lower than the numbers for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) to 2.5 million by 2024. There are the usual wildly exaggerated claims of huge numbers of jobs - a doubling - with 1,000 new jobs claimed. In reality, low cost airlines add about 200 or less jobs per extra million passengers]. Southampton airport says there would be no increase in the size of aircraft but the extension would enable planes to take off carrying a heavier load of fuel, meaning longer flights. Local residents know these heavier planes would mean more noise. The airport claims it would "inject an extra £50 million into the local economy" - while in reality is will just be more cheap flights for those taking leisure money out of the UK to spend elsewhere.
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Letter to Guardian from Heathrow critics & supporters asking for aircraft noise ombudsman
The noise from planes using Heathrow airport is a huge issue, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Noise at other airports is equally a serious problem for those affected. Over decades, local communities have had little reason to trust the airports and the authorities (a recent example being the unannounced flight path trial over Warnham, from Gatwick). Aircraft noise is considered to be an unfortunate side effect of the alleged benefits of a growing aviation sector, with those affected being necessary "collateral damage" of this industry. The Airports Commission, in its interim report in December, recommended the setting up of an independent noise authority which would be able to deal with noise issues. Now a letter, supporting the establishment of an Ombudsman, has been sent to the Guardian, signed by a long list of notable people, including many opponents of a 3rd Heathrow runway. The letter hopes the Ombudsman may establish more "trust and confidence." However, no amount of liaison, consultation etc will actually make the amount of noise diminish, which is what most people who suffer from aircraft noise actually want. There are fears that the new body will be “long grass into which difficult issues could be consigned.”
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The cost of a new Gatwick runway – £50 extra per return flight
A new research study - ‘Who would pay for a new runway’ - examines who would pay for a new runway at Gatwick or at Heathrow. It concludes that a new runway at Gatwick would mean an increase in airport charges (landing fees, aircraft parking charges etc) per passenger from £8 at present to £33.60 – an increase of £25, or £50 per return flight. At Heathrow the increase would be from £19 per passenger to £31. The calculations are based on the estimate made by the Airports Commission that a new Gatwick runway would cost £10 - £13 billion. The local Gatwick campaign, GACC, say Gatwick often claim that a new runway at Gatwick would be cheaper than one at Heathrow. But they don't mention that the cost would need to be borne by roughly half as many passengers at Gatwick as at Heathrow. In the past the cost of new infrastructure was met by the Government, or spread among BAA's airports. But now all the airports are privately owned by separate companies. The cost of a Gatwick runway would have to be met only by the passengers using Gatwick. £50 extra on a return flight might well cause price sensitive passengers and airlines to choose to use Stansted instead.
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Gatwick offers to pay households for noise of 2nd runway – dismissed by opponents as a “very small bribe”
Gatwick airport is on a PR and charm offensive to try to get support for a 2nd runway. This has been somewhat upset over the past two weeks by the impact on the village of Warnham of an unannounced flight path trial. Now Gatwick airport may have been rushed into making the offer of £1,000 per year to "all households most affected" by noise from a 2nd runway. The airport says would be equivalent to Band A Council Tax (currently £1000). Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said the cash would help negate some of the impact. The airport estimate that 4,100 households would qualify for the money by 2040, using the discredited 57 decibel contour. In reality, the 57dB contour does not accurately reflect the areas where noise is annoying or causes disturbance - even the 54dB contour, as used in Europe, is an inaccurate measure. Many thousands more people - perhaps 48,000 - would need to be compensated if the 54dB contour was used. The £1,000 is a derisory figure, not even slightly compensating for loss of house value, or for loss of local amenity and quality of life. This is a very small bribe.