I have welcomed the announcement that Heathrow will be holding a consultation starting in January 2019 on airspace use. The Airspace and Future Operations consultation will ask questions about future airspace use and how the airport will operate. The consultation will refer to the airspace design principles determined through an earlier consultation and will outline the geographic areas (known as "design envelopes") within which flightpaths could be positioned.
This is part of a wider Airspace Modernisation Strategy which aims to make airspace more efficient by improving punctuality; cutting CO2 emissions; better managing noise by using multiple routes; reducing holding aircraft at low levels; and ensuring capacity to meet future demand. It will also be seeking feedback on how Heathrow might operate the runways in the future.
The consultation will also set out proposed changes for the existing two runways. Heathrow will be consulting on an arrivals procedure known as independent parallel approaches ("IPA") to enable more efficient use of the current two runways.
What I said was:
"Like all of us who have raised the issue of the low levels at which aircraft are held as they make their approach to Heathrow over Henley on an easterly wind, this consultation will give us an excellent opportunity to make our views known. Personally, I am keen to see the end of the system known as stacking whereby aircraft are held in a loop either side of Heathrow as they descend. I am also keen to ensure that aircraft are brought in at a much higher level than currently."
Further details on how to participate in this consultation will be provided over the course of the next month.
Heathrow is also currently consulting with the Local Authority on an Emerging Draft Statement of Community Consultation which sets out the approach Heathrow will undertake in relation to consulting with the community during the statutory consultation, and includes details such as when they will hold the consultation, who they will consult and how they will consult.
