Ban on night flights at Heathrow already ruled out
The consultation on night flights, issued by the Department for Transport yesterday (1), offers no hope for residents under the flight, according to pressure group HACAN ClearSkies. The Department for Transport has ruled out a ban on night flights at Heathrow.
The consultation paper is about the night flight regime intended to take effect at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick for the six years starting in autumn 2005. It will replace the current agreement with the airlines.
This is stage one of the consultation. Stage two is expected to be published later this year.
The Department for Transport makes clear that most of its detailed proposals will not emerge until the second round of consultation. In this consultation paper the Department is suggesting that the noisiest planes might be banned during the night (2). But it also makes quite clear that it sees no prospect of night flights being banned. At present there are 16 flights on an average “night” between 11.30pm and 6am, the majority of which land at Heathrow between 4.30 and 6am.
The Department rules out any prospect of meeting the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits on aircraft noise at night for at least 30 years (3).
John Stewart, Chair HACAN ClearSkies, said, “This consultation offers no hope for residents under the flight path. The fact that the Department might decide to ban some planes that are marginally more noisy is no guarantee that that there will be fewer night flights. We will continue to fight every inch of the way for a night flight ban. Shortly will be publishing a report showing that night flights are unnecessary. We have also linked up with groups across Europe to mount an international campaign against night flights.”
Notes for Editors
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Night Flying Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted was launched by the Department for Transport on 21st July 2004
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Already the noisiest planes are not permitted at night. The Department is asking for views on excluding the next-noisiest category.
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The maximum sound level recommended by the World Health Organisation guidelines is 45 decibels. That would rule out all night flights at Heathrow. The UK Government has signed up to these guidelines. In this consultation paper the Department for Transport calls them “long term targets”, adding “in respect of aircraft noise at night, the 30 year time horizon of the White Paper provides a suitable time parameter for ‘longer term’.”
For more information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 641 or 07957 385650.