| Topic: | Re:NATS conclusion on the third runway | |
| Posted by: | Tim Henderson | |
| Date/Time: | 17/01/08 21:59:00 |
| Extract from Aviation Environment Federation document, "Adding capacity at Heathrow Airport... and noise, air pollution and risk" http://www.aef.org.uk/uploads/Heathrow_R3_leaflet.doc Risk and public safety zones Take-offs and landings are the most dangerous phases of aircraft operations. Of the aircraft crashes that have occurred over the past 3 to 4 decades, most have occurred on or relatively close to airport runways. Risk is greatest close to the runway and to a line extending out from the runway centreline. The consultation report on whether 130 aircraft movements per hour could be accommodated on three runways suggests that this will be “very challenging” (in fact, the term ‘challenging’ is used six times in its two-page executive summary). The report notes that “there are a number of significant issues still to be addressed before [the air traffic controllers at Heathrow] could express confidence that a fully viable, safe Concept of Operation exists that could meet all the required objectives for the London [Terminal Control Area], accommodate the traffic generated by a third Heathrow runway, and deliver environmental benefit...” If planning permission is given, the DfT will designate a Public Safety Zone (PSZ) at each end of the new runway. These zones are defined by a 1 in 100,000 annual individual risk contours. Airport operators must offer to relocate all existing development within the 1 in 10,000 risk contour, a level beyond which individual risk is deemed to be intolerable. In the area between the 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000 annual individual risk contours, PSZ policy is a general presumption against any further development that is not low density or low occupancy. However there is no policy regarding existing development in that area, although the people there will be at higher risk than before and unable to make full use of their land. The consultation documents don’t show the 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000 contours, but hundreds if not thousands of properties may well be affected. There may also be a conflict between the PSZ designation and regional housing targets which, for instance, would require 5,700 new homes to built in Slough by 2026; and 4,450 in Hounslow by 2016/17. |