Analysis continues of the feedback to the consultation by NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic management company, on proposals to redraw the aircraft route map across a large area of south-east England.
Following publication in July of the “Initial Feedback Report on Terminal Control North: Proposed Changes to Airspace” the design, as proposed in the consultation, has undergone review in light of the feedback received. That work is continuing and when it has progressed a further feedback report will be published.
Key areas where further options are being considered include (but are not limited to):
- Luton departures in the vicinity of the Chilterns, Aylesbury Vale, Caddington/Slip End and Stevenage.
- Heathrow departures in the vicinity of Rickmansworth/Abbots Langley and Hounslow.
- Stansted departures in the vicinity of Bishops Stortford and Saffron Walden.
- London City departures over north London.
- The location of, and procedures for, arrival routes/holds for Luton, Stansted and London City.
If the current work leads to proposed options that are significantly different from those contained in the consultation, or from the current situation, there may be a need for further consultation.
Pete Whysall, Head of Airspace Development, said: “In the consultation we said no changes would be implemented before March 2009; that timescale assumed that we would be in a position to submit an Airspace Change Proposal to the CAA this month, which is no longer the case given the feedback evaluation which is still underway.
“We have always been clear that we will take as long as is necessary to give full consideration to the feedback from the consultation and will undertake further consultation if required.”
This was the biggest-ever consultation by NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic management company, on changes which represent the first fundamental overhaul in several decades for this area of airspace. The proposed changes were designed to reduce delay whilst maintaining safety and improving environmental performance.
The region is one of the most complex areas of airspace in the world, with routes in and out of major airports including Heathrow, Stansted, Luton and London City as well as smaller airports such as Southend and RAF Northolt.
The 17-week consultation ran from 21 February to 19 June 2008. The Initial Feedback Report is available on the NATS website at nats.co.uk/tcnconsultation
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