Without warning the Government released its decision on Night Flights yesterday. The bad news is that DfT has shown, once again, that it has no ambition to control the extent of Night Flight Flying at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted to any greater extent than current.
The decision is to be found at this link:
The document contains perhaps the clearest indication yet that the Government has no intention of adopting WHO recommended noise standards for aviation noise. The decision goes on to accuse community groups of misrepresenting the WHO in our claims for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep!
The decision continues to commit the Government to its existing Night Noise Objectives (based upon the 48dBLAEq 6.5 hr noise contour) – even though (as LAANC pointed out) this metric has no rational scientific reference. The document bats away our criticism of this with the excuse that the CAA noise prediction model has not been validated down to lower noise contour levels. The Department then attempts a poor explanation for the conflict that exists between air navigation / air space change noise standards (the latter adopts the UK “LOAEL” of 45dBLAeq8hr) on the basis that there is not the need for the same level of modelling accuracy for air space changes (so presumably we can take any future contour maps produced for airspace change with a large pitch of salt at around the LOAEL contour).
The results of the last UK social survey (SoNA 14) were published after the decision document however the peer review is not available.
In summary the decision means:
- the existing night noise objective and night flight restrictions will be rolled over for a period of 3 years. (Rather than the 2years we were consulted on in March this year).
- the next night flight regime will run from October 2022 to October 2025
- there is to be a ban on QC4 rated aircraft movements at the above designated airports during the night quota period from October 2022 (of no practical benefit at Heathrow)
Part 2 of the consultation runs until September 3rd 2021. in this part of the consultation the DfT are seeking early views and evidence on policy options for the government’s longer term night flight policy at the designated airports, and nationally. I will circulate comments on this for members information once the position on SoNA 14 becomes clearer.
Other News
Transport Decarbonisation Review (published by the DfT last week)
This is a total disappointment so far as the impacts from aviation are concerned. The only firm commitment from the Government on aviation appears to be to pursue airspace modernisation. As we now know, the UKs airspace modernisation programme is founded upon the introduction of concentrated flight paths (PBN) that will inflict even greater health damage on residents unlucky enough to find themselves under a new flightpath. On the other hand the failure of the Strategy to get to grips with the conflict that currently exists between stated aviation policy and the Government’s declared ambitions in relation to Climate Change is a lamentable attempt to kick the can down the road again.
The Decarbonisation Review is high on ambition for overcoming the conflicts that clearly exist in terms of expanding aviation and its impact on climate change. This ambition is to be nurtured under the stewardship of the Government’s Jet Zero Council. Members may be interested to know that the membership (and minutes) of the Jet Zero Council are available on line.
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/jet-zero-council#ceo
I was surprised to the see that the Jet Zero Council has appointed a CEO – the current Chief Operating Officer of Heathrow Airport who (in a former role, pre Covid) was responsible, I believe, for directing the airport’s 3rd runway programme.
On a final note – The absence of a commitment to review the Airports National Policy Statement in the Transport Decarbonisation Review, leaves Heathrow Expansion (3rd runway) as extant Government Policy on aviation. Thus Heathrow can apply for DCO consent for a 3rd runway at any time.
CS 22/7/2021