NEW FLIGHT PATH CONSULTATION

National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the body responsible for air traffic control movements in the UK, has revealed in a letter to Hornchurch & Rainham MP James Brokenshire that it is revising its plans to change flight paths in this area.  NATS will be launching a new public consultation on revised proposals to redraw the aircraft route map in South East England known as ‘Terminal Control North’.

Under NATS original proposals aircraft on northerly departure routes from London City Airport which currently fly over Woodford and Chingford would have been routed to the north east over Hornchurch.  London City has already been given to increase the number of flights from the airport by up to 50%. 

In its letter to James Brokenshire, NATS reveals that:

 The second consultation will take place later this year at a time to be confirmed that would not before July;
 Revised proposals are still being formulated and assessed for safety, operational efficiency and impact on communities; and
 New precision navigation technology has resulted in additional options for some routes being brought into consideration which NATS says might “allow a degree of choice for those in the area affected”.

Commenting on the news James Brokenshire said:

“I’m pleased that the flight path changes are being looked at again, but we need to see the details of the revised proposals before thinking this might be good news.  This area already faces an increase in noise nuisance from more flights from London City Airport. Routing even more of these aircraft over Hornchurch would make the problem worse.  When the new public consultation is launched in the summer it’s important that local people take part and make it clear that this area shouldn’t bear the brunt of the environmental downside.”

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