- • Airport has accepted all of the recommendations of the Independent Arrivals Review
- • Noise Management Board to have its first meeting in June
- • Gatwick grateful for constructive community feedback and engagement
Gatwick Airport has produced a Final Action Plan in response to the recommendations of the Independent Arrivals Review which was commissioned to help address the issue of aircraft noise for local residents.
The Final Action Plan follows a constructive and generally positive period of community engagement to the Proposed Action Plan which ran from 31st March to 16th May 2016 and sought input from a wide range of stakeholders.
The Independent Arrivals Review, commissioned by Gatwick Airport Chairman Sir Roy McNulty, was led by Bo Redeborn and Graham Lake and proposed a timeframe for the introduction of its recommendations, many of which could be operational within a twelve month period, including:
- • improved use of continuous descent arrivals generating significantly less noise and increased flexibility for sequencing and spacing of arrivals
- • accelerated aerodynamic modification for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft to reduce the noise they produce during the approach phase of flight
- • broadening the approach “arrivals swathe†to extend between 8-14nm
- • reduced aircraft holding over land
- • development of a comprehensive online complaint management system, and;
- • the establishment of a Noise Management Board (NMB) to oversee joint strategies to deal with noise around the airport.
Feedback and engagement has confirmed that the community response to the Arrivals Review and the Proposed Action Plan has been largely positive. In response to that feedback, community representation on the Noise Management Board has been increased from two representatives to four, and further analysis has been carried out to quantify more fully the impact of some recommendations such as the widening of the arrivals swathe to between 8-14nm. An initial planning meeting for the NMB has already taken place. The NMB is intended to include representatives from Gatwick Airport, the CAA, NATS, ANS, DfT, elected council members and community representatives, with Bo Redeborn being proposed as the Independent Chair. The first meeting of the NMB is planned to take place on 21st June.
Feedback from the local community also indicted strong support for the acceleration of aerodynamic modifications to the Airbus A320 family of aircraft to reduce the noise they produce during the approach phase of flight.
Gatwick Airport Chairman Sir Roy McNulty said:“I am grateful for the constructive feedback to Gatwick’s Proposed Action Plan from the local community which has helped to ensure the Final Action Plan is designed to meet the needs of local people affected by aircraft noise.
Taken together, the practical steps recommended by Bo and his review team can make a real difference for local people, which is reflected in the positive community response to the review. Gatwick is now committed to working with the local community, the new Independent Noise Management Board and other partners to implement the recommendations of the review.â€Bo Redeborn said:“The review team is pleased that the review’s recommendations have been accepted and that work is already underway to implement many of the 23 recommendations.
Ultimately, these recommendations are about reducing the impact of noise on local people, and the ongoing input of community groups and representatives has played a significant role in shaping the review’s recommendations and Gatwick’s Final Action Plan.â€
Bo Redeborn brings extensive experience and understanding of air traffic control having previously served as Principal Director of Air Traffic Management for EUROCONTROL. Amongst other current activities, Bo is currently an independent member of Gatwick’s Environment, Health and Safety, and Operational Resilience Committee. From 2011-2014 he was Principal Director Air Traffic Management in EUROCONTROL and, before joining EUROCONTROL in 2004 as Director ATM Strategies, he was Manager Air Traffic Management and later Manager ATM Support and Development in the Swedish CAA (LFV).
The review was commissioned in August 2015 to determine whether;
1. Everything that can reasonably be done to alleviate the problems which local communities are raising is in fact being done, whether this involves action by the airport or by other parties most closely involved – National Air Traffic Services (NATS), UK Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA), the Department for Transport (DfT) or the airlines, and
2. The mechanisms which Gatwick has adopted for providing information to the local community and for handling of complaints have been fully adequate for the task.
For more information contact:
Gatwick Airport press office
t: + 44 (0) 1293 505000
e: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com
About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for more than 40 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South East region, generating around 21,000 on-airport jobs and a further 10,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is south of Central London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express, and is part of the Oyster contactless payment network. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.
