The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 129
considering the case for a night ban, Government will need to assess
evidence on the extent and nature of adverse effects on residents, as well
as economic and other issues. Such evidence will need to be sufficiently
detailed to enable conflicting demands to be properly assessed, in full
public consultation. The Aviation Minister announced in December 2000
changes in the night-time use of Heathrow’s runways. This was not a
night ban, as many had called for, but a weekly rotation between westerly
and easterly operations whenever weather conditions permitted. This was
designed to roughly equalise directional operations. Full implementation
of this new night rotation system was delayed by a phased programme of
extensive refurbishment of Heathrow’s two main runways. When the
arrangements are uncomplicated by construction works, the effects on
people under the rotating flightpaths should be assessed.
Box 41: Existing night flight restrictions at Heathrow
The Government has imposed various restrictions on night flights at
Heathrow since 1962. There are no scheduled departures between 2330
and 0630 hours. Aircraft delayed, for example, by bad weather, sometimes
leave after 2330, as may small aircraft, such as medical flights. The first
arrival is scheduled around 0455, but can arrive earlier.
The most recent controls, introduced in 1999, impose the
following restrictions:
■ Limit to total flights each season between 2330 and 0600 hours (3250
summer, 2550 winter);
■ Supplementary quota system to encourage use of quieter aircraft.
Aircraft types are given a Quota Count (QC) value reflecting their
certificated noise values for landing or take-off. A maximum QC
number is also set for each season between 2330 and 0600 hours, the
‘night quota period’;
■ Noisier aircraft (QC16 and QC8) cannot be scheduled to operate
between 2300 and 0700, and cannot operate between 2330 and 0600
unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
In addition, there is a voluntary ban on the scheduled operation of QC4
aircraft, which are currently the noisiest category of aircraft permitted to
operate during the night quota period. In January 2004, the Secretary of
State announced that, following consultation 22 , the night restrictions
regime would be extended on an interim basis until October 2005. Further
consultation on arrangements beyond then is expected during 2004/05.
Full details are published in the CAA’s Supplement to the UK Aeronautical
Information Publication S15/2001.