Forum Topic

Heathrow Noise Issues

I have to share this one, maybe everyone else knows it, but it came out of the blue for me!A new client turned up at the boatyard for a VAT Certificate for his new houseboat. Driving down to his boat I (unusually) thought to be polite & ask what he did for a crust. Turned out he was a pilot for BA.Ah, I said, you're one of the ones responsible for our terrible noise pollution! He quite agreed, saying he'd lived in Hounslow for 3 years so knew all about it. What was interesting was what he then divulged. Apparently there are 2 major runways/approaches they can use. One we are all far too familiar with, the other mostly over unpopulated territory.Curiously, they will use the airspace over us, even with slight following tail-winds that would ordinarily dictate using the alternative, rather than subject empty fields to their noise. Why? Because that path overflies Windsor Castle, and apparently her Maj. doesn't care for the noise any more than we do, - but she carries more clout!I have to say that this was quite a revelation. I'm no anti-monarchist, but it does seem a bit rich that all of Hounslow can be subjected to constant infliction of this pestilence, simply so that Windsor can be free of it for the few periods royalty is in residence!Might it not be cheaper for the government/airlines to contribute towards triple-glazing Windsor Castle, rather than the thousands of ordinary homes under the current preferred flight paths?

Nigel Moore ● 7041d11 Comments

How will the reported buy out of the BAA by a Spanish company effect the expansion at London’s Airports

Ian Roberts ● 7023d

The discussion here about Westerley Preference is about right - there is an agreement that c70% of landings should be westerley, and with Alternation that means 35/35/30.  We (LBH) were considering consulting about our position on this, ie whether we should lobby for a change - as departing planes now turn quickly and most Hounslow residents at a particular geographic point hear only every 3rd or 4th departure, but are saddled with every arrival due to the long fixed descent paths (which reduce noise - honestly!)However . . before you come to a conclusion remember that we may not be talking about the current runway alternation patterns for much longer if BAA  have their way.  At the end of March DfT will be consulting on "Increasing the capacity of the existing 2 Runways"  ie ending alternation (see LBH and HACAN Clearskies websites).  Any resident who lives/works/studies/worships under either of the landing paths knows that life is either hell or normal, depending on the alternation pattern that day/week.  Ending alternation will mean we get planes landing over our heads all day, every day that they are flying on Westerly preference.Look out for a 12 week period of consultation from end March to mid-June.  LBH will be working with the Hounslow branch of HACAN Clearskies - encouraging people to make their views known, and I'm hoping that Forum posters will be actively involved.  Ideas are welcome now for slogans, campaign tactics etc etc.RuthCllr Ruth CadburyLead on Hounslow's Exec on Aviation Issues

Ruth Cadbury ● 7025d

Where you aware that the BAA that runs Heathrow..is a privatised organisation. There is news about that a Spanish Company is planning to make a bid to take over...attracted by the possibility of making lots of money from furure activities!!In addition there is a story that employees at the airport are being reminded of the need to encourage Heathrow expansion to safeguard their futures!  A "send this postcard to your Councillor" campaign is reported.The Borough of Hounslow Civic Centre website has more information. Click here>>>>>>  http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/news_and_events/news/22_feb_cadbury_airport_menace.htm

Jim Lawes ● 7026d

Complaining? No no they'll be a few activists..and the authorities will easily penetrate those groups and hear what they're saying and doing. We'll plant a few too.No...no were're laughing... the Governments on our side..they want to see jobs jobs jobs..blow the locals suffering below ..even if they did live there long before the airport was built.Night flight? Oh yea..we can do that..easy..We send 5800 early morning landings to Hounslow every year...before 6am..even though its a bit cheeky..there are no problem.Anyone complaining gets a straight bat from our well drilled  staff..and soon the caller gets fed up and slopes off.We're geared up to increasing that 5800 figure too. Yes we bung money to the Kew Gardens people and give them free trips all over the world to do their research...and we have managed to get a few of their bods onto the fund-raising committees to help us along.  There are others too..but that's not your business!!The Unions?  We're well sorted....we're in with the Government too, we know the local MP's..I think we have some them on our Committees ..yea we're well sorted. Also we're making a lot of noise about giving some noise insulation to some local schools....we're laughing.Terminal Five? Oh, that was well sorted long before the Ok was given....and I'll tell you T5 is massive ..much bigger that anyone will have imagined. We sorted that alright.  Just you wait and see..the Heathrow mob will complain that Terminal 5 is underused..because it is so vast..and then we'll push for getting even more aircraft in!!Terminals One and Two and Three..Oh they've been expanding them quietly for months and months now..those silly locals just don't know what's going on.Our lads have been suppressing recent talk about night flights...well..they've diverted peoples attention away from the subject by talking about the Third Runway..and worse for them still..that alternating on the same runway lark.They'll never be able to sit in the garden and relax, or play cricket without the thunder of those airlines. But we'll push ahead with our future..its just trying to confuse the locals... that's my mates main task..keeping them confused and uninformed..we just give them tit-bits of information. Our Heathrow chaps, Civil Servants, MPs and others are doing well at that. They can't even get answers on their Forums!!

Jim Lawes ● 7038d

Jim Lawes ● 7038d

From the Wandsworth Forum front page>""BAA have now started work upgrading the northern runway in preparation for the new A380 aircraft. Between now and mid-April the runway will be closed from 10.30pm to 6am from Sunday to Thursday each week.""So on Saturday and Sunday mornings those early flights will still be sailing over Brentford and north Isleworth before 5am!! the first one came over at 4.30am this morning..followed by two others within five minutes!! Agreed they were quieter that some mornings..but they still made me lift my head from the pillow!So you folk in south Isleworth will be getting your ration..starting on Monday morning..before you've had the chance to think about eggs and bacon. Check out if 16 arrive between 4.30am and 6am? ..and feel free to join in this Forum...an unappreciated local asset..underused by Isleworthians and Brentfordians alike.

Jim Lawes ● 7038d

:-(

Sarah Felstead ● 7039d

Nigel:Your very enlightening news is noted!  I'm just waiting for an opportunity to speak to someone in the Control Tower!I would like to see a general ban on Arrivals before 6am...the 5800(?) of them each year. It strikes me that there is no possibility of that happening.  The Authorities seem only interested in increasing the number of early morning flights from October...based on each aircraft being perhaps quieter.But who checks the early morning noise levels? and with what? and where?.  When I have phoned Heathrow at 5am about the noise of a particular aircraft...I've basically been fobbed off by well drilled staff!Our minds are now being diverted by discussions about the Third Runway..and Dual Use of each runway to increase capacity.A Hounslow website is needed perhaps..so that more voices can be heard. The BAA, since being privatised, is apparently in the hands of shareholders who may..or may not...have interests incompatible with those of residents being disturbed on the ground.

Jim Lawes ● 7039d

Well I find your comments informative Richard, and will ask the pilot for a response if he gets in touch again.No one else seems to be interested though!

Nigel Moore ● 7039d

"Official preferential routes notwithstanding, I did but quote what I was told by a BA pilot, that these preferences seem to honoured more in the breach than observance."Not sure I understand the last bit.  The westerly preference policy does reduce the proportion of landings over Windsor to about 30%, so the effect on Her Majesty is the same even if the reason is less colourful than your contact suggested.Actually it's not that unfair for landings, because we have runway alternation on our side of Heathrow (at present!), but there's no alternation on the Windsor side.  So the landings are shared roughly as follows:  Over Brentford  35%  Over Richmond  35%  Over Windsor    30%

Richard Jennings ● 7040d

Informative link Richard.Official preferential routes notwithstanding, I did but quote what I was told by a BA pilot, that these preferences seem to honoured more in the breach than observance. Perhaps he should not have said anything, but surely he ought to know?

Nigel Moore ● 7040d

I think this is a complete myth.  From a document on Aircraft Noise at BAA's site:"A westerly preference was introduced by DfT many years ago, for noise reasons. The London side of the Airport is more heavily populated than the Windsor side, so in order to reduce the numbers of people overflown by departures - which are noisier than arrivals, the westerly preference was introduced to restrict the occasions when departures took off over the London side. The effect is that Heathrow uses easterly operations only when the easterly winds are 5 knots or more."Full document at http://www.heathrowairport.com/assets/B2CPortal/Static%20Files/heathrow_noise_information.pdf

Richard Jennings ● 7040d