Airports

Heathrow Airport could alter flight paths when 3rd runway built

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Heathrow Airport is holding the next phase of public consultation including on potential airspace change when the gateway is expanded which could see different geographic areas used when future flight paths are mapped.

The eight-week consultation on ‘Airspace & Future Operations’ launched on 8 January and the airport is asking the public’s opinions on how it could operate if a third runway is built including runway alternation and proposals on night flights.

The consultation also seeks feedback about airspace change to make better use of the existing two runways: the local factors the airport should consider in different geographic areas when designing new flight paths for some aircraft arrivals on our existing two runways.

And it will garner feedback on future operations for an expanded Heathrow and how it will operate three runways in the future – including managing noise; respite through runway and airspace alternation; directional preference and night flights.

In June last year, the UK Parliament backed the building of a third runway at Heathrow as MPs voted 415 to 119 in favour of the contentious £14 billion development plan.

MPs from across political parties joined forces to support the Government’s Airports National Policy Statement and the UK hub said it is now preparing an application for development consent which will see construction begin in 2021.

There will be over 30 consultation events across local boroughs throughout the consultation period, where members of the public will be able to ask questions and provide their feedback.

This major public consultation follows on from the airport’s first consultation on expansion, which was held from January to March 2018. Heathrow will hold a further consultation in June on its emerging plans for expansion including the new runway and associated physical infrastructure, as well as presenting options to mitigate and manage the effects of the airport’s growth.

Heathrow’s executive director for expansion, Emma Gilthorpe, urges local people to participate in the consultation: “Heathrow’s aim is to design a sustainable, fair and more efficient future airport while connecting the UK to global growth.

“It is crucial that our plans maximise the benefits of expansion across the country, including for the communities closest to us – and working in partnership with our neighbours is just one way of ensuring they do so. We are committed to delivering expansion responsibly, and we encourage everyone to have their say and take part.”

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