NEW HACAN REPORT CHALLENGES AVIATION INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM MEASURES TO CUT COMMUNITY NOISE

PRESS RELEASE

 30 /4/19 for immediate use

NEW HACAN REPORT CHALLENGES AVIATION INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM MEASURES TO CUT COMMUNITY NOISE

Campaign group HACAN, which gives a voice to residents under the Heathrow flight paths, has today released a report challenging the aviation industry to take action to improve the noise climate for local communities (1)Noise Relief outlines practical measures which could be taken to achieve this.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN and co-author of the report, said, “Heathrow is drawing up plans for the biggest shake up of its flight paths since the airport opened in 1946.  HACAN welcomes many of these plans, particularly those which will bring some respite each day to the many areas which are currently flown over all day long.  But these new flight paths will not be in place for several years yet. Our report suggests measures which can be taken in the interim.”

The report’s co-author Dr Maureen Korda, a South London resident, endorsed the need for short-term action: “Long suffering residents like myself cannot wait for half a dozen more years for some sort of relief.”

The report advocates four measures be taken to assist residents:

  • Stagger the point at which planes join their final approach path:  at present 95% of planes now join within a narrow 4.8 nautical mile band;
  • Increase variation in departure routes:  over the last ten years or so aircraft taking off from Heathrow have increasingly been concentrated along narrow flight paths;
  • Promote fairer night flight arrival distribution:  night flights appear to vary their routes less than they did in the past;
  • Reduce simultaneous overflight by both Heathrow and London City arrivals:  there are days when parts of SE London are overflown by both Heathrow and London City aircraft, giving them at times over 50 planes an hour.

Stewart said: “Our proposals will make the flight paths a lot fairer.  Few will impact new areas as they are largely reverting to previous practice.” 

HACAN will now discuss with the aviation industry the level of consultation that will be necessary on the proposals it has put forward.  The report acknowledges the assistance Heathrow Airport and NATS have already provided. They have given technical advice and shared key data.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1).  To read the full report: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/NoiseRelief.pdf  

For further information:

John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650