General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
Heathrow end-of-consultation rally – huge success!
Thousands of residents, politicians and environmentalists have pledged to resist plans to extend Heathrow. Almost 3,000 people attended a meeting at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, addressed by many MPs including Nick Clegg, Peter Ainsworth and John McDonnell, with contributions from Ken Livingstone, Brian Paddick, Boris Johnson and Sian Berry. The overwhelming message from the rally was a concerted call for NO MORE EXPANSION AT HEATHROW.
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NATS proposals – How air routes may change
Major changes to flight paths in South East England are being proposed by the business responsible for the UK's airspace. A map in the consultation documents shows existing holding areas for aircraft heading for Luton, Stansted and London City airports and their proposed replacements under the Nats plan. (BBC)
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NATS Airspace plan offsets noise with emissions
Millions of people in London and south-east England will be spared a significant increase in aircraft noise, but see no reduction in CO2 emissions, under Britain's biggest airspace shake-up. The changes will redraw the airspace above 12 million people and introduce three new holding patterns for Luton and Stansted. (Guardian)
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NATS changes – Villagers face noise blight as jets are diverted from towns
Thousands of homes in rural areas will be blighted by aircraft noise under reorganisation of flight paths, which is intended to cope with the rapid growth in air travel. National Air Traffic Services (Nats), is planning to redirect aircraft over sparsely populated countryside to reduce the impact on urban areas. (Times)
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Wake up call as winners and losers emerge from proposed flight path changes by NATS
Plans to change the stacking areas and departure routes for planes using Stansted Airport are set to be a wake up call to many communities who will be blighted by overflying aircraft for the first time as both winners and losers emerge from proposals issued by National Air Traffic Systems (NATS) today. (SSE press release)
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NATS publishes consultation on changes to the Terminal Control North airspace region
NATS have put their proposals for changes to the Terminal Control North airspace region out to public consultation. This region covers a large part of London, southern and eastern England, an area with a population of 12 million people and home to some of the UK's busiest airports. (NATS)
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Thousands expected to attend end-of-consultation rally to protest against Heathrow expanson plans
The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will head up an impressive line-up of speakers who will address a Central London Rally - on Monday 25th February - which thousands of people are expected to attend in protest against government plans to expand Heathrow. (Hacan press release)
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Scottish Government Urged to Intervene in Heathrow Plans
The UK Government' expansion plans for a third runway at Heathrow, would lead to a 180 million tonne increase in Britain's emissions from air travel between 2020 and 2060. Scottish Greens say the Scottish Government must be consulted by law, as because of the implications for Scotland's efforts to tackle climate change. (All media Scotland)
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Future predictions by Boeing of the global air freight market
The world air cargo market has grown at 7% a year since 1970, compared with a 5% growth in passenger traffic, according to Boeing. Boeing’s least optimistic expectation is for 5.3% annual growth, which will take the sector from 200bn revenue tonne-km (RTK) today to 500bn RTK by 2025. (International Freighting Weekly)
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The Economic Benefits of Expanding Heathrow ‘Negligible’ – says new independent research
A major new report, published on 14th February by independent economic consultants CE Delft, undermines the economic case for expansion at Heathrow. It challenges Government claims that its current proposals to expand Heathrow will benefit the economy to the tune of £5 billion. The report argues the Government’s figures are based on flawed research which overestimates the importance of aviation to the economy. (HACAN Press Release)