Gatwick and aviation

Gatwick Airport Independent Arrivals Review

The Gatwick Airport Arrivals Review [2.0 MB] [pdf] has stemmed from concerns over the impact of noise from aircraft arrivals. The report sets out recommendations on how noise arising from aircraft can be addressed, and we have produced a  summary [39.2 KB] [pdf] of these recommendations.

Progress on the actions identified in the Arrivals Review, including the minutes of the independently chaired Noise Management Board, is available from Gatwick Airport.

Government announcement on airport expansion

Following the publication of the Davies Commission report in July 2015, Government confirmed in December 2015 their support for the need for airport expansion in the south east.

However, the decision on whether Heathrow or Gatwick should be expanded has been delayed to enable further assessment work to be undertaken on environmental impacts and identify an appropriate package of measures to mitigate the impacts on local people. It is expected this will be completed by Summer 2016.

Further details can be seen at Government confirms support for airport expansion in the south-east.

Our pledge to East Sussex residents – see press release Council’s pledge to residents on Gatwick flight path.

Airspace Change Process review response

East Sussex County Council has recently responded to the  Airspace Change Process review [38.3 KB] [pdf].

Airport Commission Air Quality Assessment consultation

East Sussex County Council has responded to the Airport Commission’s most recent consultation assessing the likely impacts of an additional runway at Gatwick or Heathrow on air quality:

Air Quality Assessment response [62.4 KB] [pdf]

Airports Commission to consider impact of flights on local communities

The Airports Commission’s Senior Delivery Group, chaired by the CAA, has published its Technical Report on the Implementation of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) in the UK:

Airports Commission Technical Paper [195.7 KB] [pdf]

The document advises:

  • consideration of the implications of the introduction of PBN routes, including possible respite options for those most affected by the new routes
  • consideration of the implementation of increased vertical profiles, steeper approaches, and continuous climbs and descent operations
  • Government’s Aircraft Noise Management Advisory Committee (ANMAC) has started to consider some of the issues associated with the widespread introduction of PBN routes at certain airports, including Gatwick

East Sussex County Council support a second runway

At the 27 January 2015 Full Council meeting Councillors were invited to represent their views on the proposed second runway and recent flight path changes at Gatwick Airport. An open vote took place which saw the majority of Councillors supporting the proposal subject to certain conditions being met. A subsequent Cabinet meeting formally approved this decision.

The County Council do however oppose the narrow, concentrated arrival flight path which was trialled by the National Air Traffic Service and the Civil Aviation Authority, and which has had negative impacts on residents in the north of the county. Our opposition to this will be highlighted in our response to the Airport Commission’s consultation.

Our response to the Airports Commission consultation

Further to the decisions made at the Full Council and Cabinet meetings in January, we submitted our response to the Airports Commission.

Airports Commission consultation response [112.1 KB] [pdf]

Letter to the Under Secretary of State for Transport

See the letter we have written to The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport [82.2 KB] [pdf], Robert Goodwill MP demanding that the aviation authorities reconsider flight paths and enforce requirements on A320 aircraft to minimise noise impacts.

See the letter from our Lead Member for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills [142.3 KB] [pdf] who wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding Gatwick Airport and Flight Path Issues in December 2014.

The Airports Commission consultation

The Airports Commission consulted on the three shortlisted options for a new runway in the south east of England – two at Heathrow and one at Gatwick.

You can find the Commission’s consultation document, business cases/sustainability assessments for the three options and other technical documents which support the consultation on the gov.uk website – Increasing the UK’s long-term Aviation Capacity.

The consultation closed on 3 February 2015.

Gatwick Second Runway – East Sussex View

This document gives information about the proposed second runway at Gatwick Airport and our response to the proposals. You will also find answers to some of the questions posed by our residents; this was last updated in January 2015.

Gatwick Airport – East Sussex View – FAQs [81.5 KB] [pdf]

Topics covered include:

  • noise complaints
  • flight paths and patterns
  • the economic benefits for East Sussex.

London Airspace Consultation – East Sussex View

This response refers to the proposals for changes to the use of airspace in the Gatwick local area, and incorporates the views and issues by our residents.

Gatwick Airport Consultation Response [60.5 KB] [pdf]

Topics covered include:

  • consultation document content
  • concentration of aircraft
  • aircraft noise and height
  • environmental impact

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