Birmingham Airport launches runway extension Airspace Change Consultation process



Birmingham Airport is carrying out a series of roadshows in January and February 2013
to talk to its neighbours about proposed changes to its flight paths

The Airport is consulting over a three month period on the redesign of its flight paths
needed for the opening of its runway extension in early 2014

The new routes of the flight paths have been designed using the latest criteria to allow
aircraft to fly more precisely than ever and are a legal requirement set out by the CAA

As the runway will be extended further south, there will be a change to the routeing
of aircraft after taking-off to the south off Runway 15. This is due to the earliest point
that aircraft can turn after departure also moving further to the south, affecting the
routeing of aircraft which will mean a change for some communities

The runway is currently being extended to the south by 405 metres

Currently, aircraft departing from Birmingham are directed to fly within a 3km "noise
corridor", up to 3000ft to minimise the noise impact on local communities. However,
after redesigning the flight paths using the latest criteria, aircraft will be able to fly
more precisely. The Airport has therefore committed to reduce the existing 3km
noise corridor to 2km to demonstrate its confidence in the changes

John Morris, the Airport’s Public Affairs Director, explained, "As a result of our flight
paths being redesigned using the latest criteria, aircraft will be able to fly more
precisely on the centre line of a flight path which means that we no longer need
such a wide noise corridor. By narrowing the corridor in which aircraft fly, and as
more airlines introduce newer aircraft installed with the latest navigational aids,
even fewer communities could be over-flown in the future"

In addition to the changes to the flight paths for aircraft taking off, the Airport
is also consulting on changes to the arrival procedures for aircraft landing from
the south on Runway 33 due to aircraft touching down earlier on the extended
runway. This will mean that aircraft, at any point along the final approach path,
will be approximately 51ft lower than at present

Meanwhile, it is likely that the noise impact for many communities to the north
of the airport will improve, as the take off threshold for aircraft departing to the
north will start from a more southerly position on the airfield. This means that
aircraft will start to climb sooner and be higher in the sky in the north of the
Airport, reducing the noise impact for many communities
To give local people an opportunity to find out more about the proposed airspace
changes, the Airport is holding a series of roadshows in Catherine-de-Barnes,
Barston, Eastcote, Meriden, Berkswell, Hampton-in-Arden, Marston Green,
Bickenhill, Balsall Common, Knowle and Sheldon

Full details of the proposals and the roadshows can be found at:
www.birminghamairport.co.uk/airspace
or by calling the Airport's Environmental Helpline on 0121 767 7433

Friday 11 January 2013

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