Wandsworth News
Heathrow flight pattern trial sparks 600 complaints
9:00am Thursday 23rd February 2012
A flight pattern trial due to finish next Thursday (February 29), has sparked 600 complaints about aircraft noise to Wandsworth Council.
The four month experiment has meant airport operator BAA were given more flexibility over when it can bring planes into land over London.
Current rules allow Heathrow to use one runway for arrivals and one for departures, which are switched every day at 3pm to give communities living under the flightpaths a break from aircraft noise.
The trial allows BAA to land planes on both runways at the same time if incoming flights face delays of 10 minutes or over.
People in the borough were asked to report any concern in aircraft noise to Wandsworth Council, with the evidence being used to show the impact of the scheme.
The council have received about 600 complaints from people complaining aircraft noise has increased.
Council leader Ravi Govindia said: "BAA will submit a detailed report on the first stage of these trials later this year.
"Together with our colleagues we will be scrutinising the findings very carefully indeed to ensure they reflect the true impact on communities living under the flightpath."
BAA said the aim of the trial is to explore ways of making the airport run more efficiently and to cut down on flight delays.
A second trial period is set to take place from July 1 to September 30.
Visit wandsworth.gov.uk/heathrowsurvey, email eryans@wandsworth.gov.uk or call the council's aircraft noise hotline on 020 8871 5377 to report a complaint.
Please ensure your message includes the time of the nuisance flight and your location when the flight passed overhead.
For more information visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/heathrowtrial