Protests force rethink on flight paths

Posted on August 5, 2008

The company in control of flight paths around Luton Airport is going back to the drawing board following overwhelming public opposition to proposals it published earlier this year.

National Air Traffic Services has just published the feedback it received during the consultation on its proposals to change flight paths out of the airport.

The results show 86 per cent of people who responded were opposed to the proposals, which would have seen more than 5,000 extra people affected by aircraft noise. The majority of grievances were over the loss of tranquility in rural areas, and many also raised concerns about the consultation process itself.

NATS is now looking at a range of further options for the flight paths for westerly departures affecting the villages of Caddington, Slip End, Edlesborough and Eaton Bray. However, a re-think on the affected area further west might not be such welcome news, as NATS says new options could include over-flying Edlesborough, Whipsnade, Totternhoe and Dunstable.

These routes would be more fuel efficient but could have an impact on airspace used by gliders.

The feedback document is available from the NATS website.

Source: NATS