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Night flights over London to be allowed during Games
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter11.11.09
London residents fear a “relentless noise nightmare” during the Olympics as air industry bosses consider using night flights to cope with the surge in travel to the capital.
The Civil Aviation Authority suggests easing restrictions on flights during sleeping hours at all airports while the Games takes place, it emerged today.
London airports, particularly Heathrow, already operate near full capacity during the day. Planners estimate a million extra people will visit Britain in July and August 2012.
The CAA's Olympic steering group discusses a general “derestriction of noise controls” on its website. It also raises the possibility of using military air bases to meet demand, which could mean new flight paths over London.
More ideas put forward by the air experts include using “balloons” and airships, which were last used to ferry passengers in the Thirties.
Anti-airport expansion campaign group HACAN denounced the measures. Chairman John Stewart said: “These revelations are shocking. Londoners could be bombarded by aircraft noise day and night.
“There would be a big incentive to introduce night flights at London City airport in particular as it's so near Stratford. There are so many people living near there it would be horrific.
“The airspace above London would become absolutely chocka when it is already the busiest in Europe. It would be a relentless noise nightmare. Londoners would never get any sleep.”
Mr Stewart added that the industry could push to keep any new air routes after the Olympics. He described the airship suggestion as “fanciful”, but noted that at least they are quiet.
Edward Lister, leader of Wandsworth council, said: “People already get woken up at around 4.30am by early morning arrivals at Heathrow. There are long-standing legal noise limits in place which we will not allow to be breached.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Susan Kramer, said: “It is absolutely outrageous to use the Olympics to sneak an end to the ban on night flights through the back door.”
A spokesman for Boris Johnson said the Mayor did not want “pressure for regular extra night flights [that would] create misery for thousands”.
A CAA spokesman said: “We are putting forward all possible ideas. This is blue sky thinking. None of this is final.” The Department for Transport said no firm decisions had been made.
Reader views (15)
I have never met anyone who wants these "games" here. We are not ready for them and it should be cancelled. Anyhow most of the places are in the wrong place and it is NOT ACTUALLY IN LONDON !!
- Georgie, Islington, London
No more sleep for anyone I guess, I'm just glad that I won't be around for it. However, I hope I could find parking for three months.
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"A CAA spokesman said: “We are putting forward all possible ideas. This is blue sky thinking.... "
Chances are, during our Olympics, we'll have grey skies and lots of rain.
In any case, someone from the ODA said a couple of weeks ago that while the Olympics will attract tourists to London, equally, the evenbt will deter others. Overall, we'll have about the same number of visitors. No need for even more night time flights.
- Mick, Chessington
These extra showers of excess fuel during the night,would they not affect the opponents at the games,and what about the visibilty ??.
- Davey_Bouy, Chertsey
What night time? The games take place end July/Early August when we have very little night time!
I have always thought we should go over to double summer time (like we had in the war) and that way we would have an hour's extra daylight at in the evenings during the games.
Is for cost of the Olympics its time to seperate the actual costs of the games from the cost of non games regeneration which has created the false impression of the games costing billions more than former Mayor Kens walnut whip.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
"some people appear to wear blinkers and think me me me all the time." - Edward, london
Like Ryanair's Michael O'Leary for example?
- Sue, London, UK
It will not end there, the Olympics will be the foot in the door for 24 hour flights!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London
No No No!
On an Olympic level - surely the athletes (as well as Londoners) need to be able to sleep prior to their events!
This is just the excuse the authorities are looking for to allow permanent night flights (as well as additional runways) - they will say 'how well it worked' during the Olympics we should allow this every day!
- Andy, london
All these flights into London will bring in a lot of money to the country,some people appear to wear blinkers and think me me me all the time.
- Edward, london
We go on about human rights - a right to a good nights sleep should be one of them, after all, the efficient running and health (both physical and mental) of the body depends on REM sleep, and that means undisturbed sleep.
Many of our mental problems arise from noise nuisance, and it’s not only down to static dB levels, unpredictable transient type noises are certainly the most annoying at almost any level, and once a problematic source of noise is focussed upon by an individual then just waiting for it to occur can lead to sleepless nights.
No, effects on the human psyche due to noise pollution should NOT be under estimated, and I have much sympathy for those infested with the problems that Lord Coe’s Circus will bring to the city and the country.
Still, we might win a few Gold’s, so it certainly will be utopia for some!
- Darius, London UK
Another insult by the Government to the residents of London. City Airport will be celebrating the opportunity to pour yet more misery on us long suffering residents in east London. More flights more money, that's all they care about.
- East Londoner, London
Surely since one of the objectives was the regeneration of east london - wouldnt it be easier to divert all the olympic planes towards Standstead instead of Heathrow.
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
Just what we need,more people in tiny london.How is TFL going to cope,they cant run a decent service now.BA are sure to be on strike again,so hopefully we dont get to many visitors.And lets not forget Livingstons promise of free travel during the Olympics,which us Londoners start paying for next year with an 18% increase.
- Dave, london
No way - there is capacity at gatwick for the Olympic special - unless London wantrs to be confronted with blocked roads and huge disruption at 2012 then no way no way at all
- Christian Ball, London, UK
Great, another reason to 'love' this white elephant of an olympics. The people of Britain are so grateful to be granted the gift of spending ludicrous amounts of money on this jamboree and now we can celebrate in the capital all night long by avoiding any pesky sleep. Joy.
- David, London
