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Switch in Heathrow take-offs 'will cause more aircraft noise'
Ross Lydall19.10.09
Residents living near Heathrow face longer periods of noise disruption under plans to change landing and take-off arrangements.
Arrivals and departures are switched between the airport's two runways at 3pm daily to give respite to people living under each flight-path. But campaigners fear airport operator BAA is looking to widen special procedures that allow planes to land and take off from the same runway - so compromising the half-day "peace and quiet".
The campaigners warn that this paves the way for "mixed mode" use of runways (using the same one for take-offs and landings in the same time period) if an incoming Tory government blocks plans for a third runway. Up to 700,000 residents are affected by the 480,000 flights a year in and out of Heathrow. With the airport operating at 99per cent capacity, loss of a third runway would add to demands for a more intensive use of existing ones.
When the Labour Government gave the go-ahead in January for the new runway, it ruled out "mixed mode" operations to preserve the half-day noise exemption, but said it would allow east-bound take-offs from the northern runway for the first time in more than 50 years by scrapping the Cranford agreement.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said the move would ease noise disruption suffered by towns to the west of Heathrow, such as Windsor, and those east of the southern runway - which now has to be used for all easterly departures. But campaigners say this will mean thousands of homes in Ealing and Brent previously largely unaffected by noise will be disrupted. Planes take-off in a westerly direction 70per cent of the time, but easterly take-offs will be split evenly between the northern and southern runways.
Evidence of BAA's planned changes emerged at the airport's consultative committee. Recently published minutes appear to confirm "there could be departures on both runways at certain periods of the day, with arrivals on one runway".
The 2M campaign group of 24 London and home counties councils against Heathrow expansion fear the air industry may also more than double night flights if it does not get a third runway by saying greater use of "quieter" aircraft would not raise total noise levels.
Reader views (7)
I regulary get woken up early in the morning by aircraft flying east to start their final approach into Heathrow. It's a London-wide problem that seems to have got much worse in the last 10 years or so.
- Rich, Carshalton
Well said Christian. People who are not bothered by aircraft noise should kindly stay off the airwaves so that those of us who do can be heard.
- Joy, Near Gatwick
Francis how would you know there would be more noise - the 4th Terminal and the 5th terminal both came with government promises not to raise capacity - so either you have the gift of second sight (wow) or its utter drivel you write on this blog. Incidentally could you explain to me why you think that Premature Death (people die younger as a direct result of heathrow) asthma rates in our kids the highest in Europe and a noise regime that daily impacts 2 million people is acceptable - to me it looks like a banana republic response to real issues for those 'hard working families'. And as Paris, Frankfurt and Schipol (the Heathrow competition) have all relocated (paris airport x3 times) to reduce noise impacts for people and build Modern services there really is no objection except from BAA and BA with its special relationship oh and you probably as only 2 million people should move not the 30,000 (many Mc jobs) that currently are based at Heathrow. A lack of vision and a lack of decency, probity and with our labour Government honesty have lead us to a point where law breaking is the only recourse increasingly left - when a government is as corrupted as this one what other choice do we have.
- Christian Ball, London, UK
Yes i agree with you Darren, i live in Forest Gate and it's really anoying being woken up at 5.30 in the morning by low flying planes coming in from the east, it's even worse when it's cloudy.
- Belinda Kendal, East London
Darren:
Aerpolane noise will keep you awake in Newham..?? Oh boy I thought the complaining residents of Barnes etc. were bad enough.
- Steve, Ashford Middx
Francis - I dont live near Heathrow yet with recent flight path changes I am now dreadfully effected by noise. I choose to live in East London and not near heathrow. Why shoud I move? Grow up and relise Heathrow flights effects far more than the area around the airport.
- Darren, Newham
I would love to know how many of the residents complaining bought their house after Heathrow was built? I bought my house just over 10 years ago knowing full well that airplanes make noise and that there would be more and more of them. But that was reflected in the price of the house, then and now. Stop complaining or move.
- Francis, Near Heathrow
