Biggin Hill Airport: Possible changes to flight paths revealed as new consultation gets under way
Biggin Hill Airport managing director Will Curtis
Hatty Collier, reporter / / Bromley
Possible alterations to flight paths into Biggin Hill Airport have been revealed as a new consultation gets under way.
A stakeholder consultation has been launched into plans to introduce a new GPS landing system at the business airport.
All flights currently approach from the north-east over Bromley borough using a GPS guidance system.
The airport claims the new system would mean around 30 to 35 per cent of current flights would not, in future, follow that route and instead “stay higher, making a direct and quieter approach from the south west”.
Will Curtis, airport managing director, said: “These changes will bring benefits to all residents living around the airport – north, south, east and west.
“Residents living to the north west such as in Farnborough and Petts Wood will have 30 to 35 per cent fewer overflights, whilst residents to the west and south west will have aircraft much higher than is the case today and making much lower noise on our new guidance system.”
Bromley Council’s executive will also make a final decision on whether to back a bid from the airport to extend its operating hours next Wednesday (November 25).
Flightpath Watch, a residents group opposed to the airport’s expansion, believes longer operating hours and flight path changes could attract noisier business jets and larger aircraft.
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A group spokesperson said: “Any new GPS route is a requirement for a commercial airport, not a benefit for the residents.
“It will bring more noisy business jets and larger aircraft to the borough.
“Our greatest concern is that noise at unsocial hours is detrimental to the well being of residents and their productivity at work or school.
“Flight paths are important, but are a secondary consideration to the hours.”
Airports must follow a procedure set down by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for airspace change.
The consultation will run for 12 weeks and the results will be studied by the CAA to see what measures can be taken to improve the plans and respond to comments put forward during the consultation.
If approved, the new flight path approach could be introduced during the autumn of 2016.
More information about the consultation is available at bigginhillairport.com/acp.
London Biggin Hill Airport
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BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT: STILL SAVING LIVES EVERY DAY
Through the years
London Biggin Hill Airport has been a vital part of our local community since 1917 when it was first opened as a wireless testing station.
Since then it has evolved through wartime action as a vital Fighter Station which is synonymous with the Battle of Britain and has seen the ongoing development of aviation and communications, to civil airfield, commercial airport and the success story of today.
The Airport today
Regional Airports Ltd. run by Andrew Walters, who owns Biggin Hill Airport has now upgraded facilities and the runway to make the airport ideal for businessmen using small jets like A319CJ, which are able to carry up to 50 passengers.
The airport has a long enough runway and now has handling facilities to service commercial airliners. It is thought by some that future growth would be focused largely on European flights for business commuters. However, has transport to the airport been considered? Will investment for a rail link and improved road links be a condition to the expansion of the Airport?
The CAA has classed Biggin Hills runway as a Cat 3, which means that aircraft with a wingspan not exceeding 36 metres can operate at Biggin Hill. This outlaws Jumbo jets but will allow smaller jets for example, Boeing 737 500 series, Airbus A319 and 320 aircraft to name a few.
Boeing 737 – 500 Series at Biggin Hill
The Airport community provides many services including:
- light aviation training
- private flying
- hangarage
- maintenance & completions
- pleasure trips
- ad hoc and corporate charter
- helicopters
- executive aviation
- scheduled services
- a huge annual air fair
The Airport in the local community
Overall there are 1000 people employed in over 55 businesses on the airfield, demonstrating the Airport’s vital role in local economic development. All airfield businesses are committed to employing and training local people. The airport itself employs 56 people.
The Airport’s operations are governed by it’s lease conditions with the London Borough of Bromley setting out restrictions on noise, operating hours, aircraft size etc and the Airport is firmly committed to working with local residents and community groups to discuss any concerns that may arise.
It is widely acknowledged that one of the airport’s main problems, particularly as it continues to grow is one of surface access, public transport links and so on. The Airport hopes to work with the relevant local and governmental bodies to improve access for users of the Airport and local residents alike.
The Changing Face of Aviation
London is the busiest aviation market in the world and as such, demand is outstripping the supply of capacity at London’s other Airports. As this happens, operators are beginning to note that Biggin Hill offers available capacity and as such the Airport will no doubt continue to grow at a steady rate with the development of scheduled services being an inevitable part of that growth.
VISIT THE AIRPORT WEBSITE AT www.bigginhillairport.com OR SEND THEM AN E-MAIL TO: enquiries@bigginhillairport.com
If you wish you could leave your views on our independant discussion board. We would be very interested to hear your opinion on any subject relating to Biggin Hill airport.
Let’s bloody well hope not. Lived here for 65 years and we’re almost screaming every day at jets passing over our house at low altitudes every few minutes including Jumbo Jets starting at 7am through to 8-9pm. Can’t have a quiet sit in the garden anymore. It’s like living in Hounslow not Kent peaceful rural countryside. Bromley Council has audacity to allow this and expect us to pay band G for our council tax in a semi-detached house directly under a flight path they allow and do nothing if you complain. Complete joke !!!
Hello to whom concern I was wondering if Biggin airport will eventually allow flights to Gibraltar to the public so not just for private , vips.? Also do you consider work experiences for chrildren at near by schools Such as Charles Darwin.? ,Thank you