Birmingham Airport maintains excellent track-keeping performance with "Operation Pathfinder" awards

Councillor Ken Meeson, Leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (far left)
and Birmingham Airport CEO Paul Kehoe (far right) with the winners

 Birmingham Airport has maintained its excellent aircraft track-keeping performance,

with 99% of all departing aircraft staying "on track" within the 2012 calendar year,

beating its annual target of 95%
 

The Airport has invested heavily in monitoring aircraft track-keeping over the years

and holds regular meetings with airlines, air traffic managers and operational staff

to ensure that they are aware of the Airport's noise and track-keeping policies  

  

 As a result, the Airport has significantly increased the number of aircraft staying

within "Noise Preferential Routes", which airlines are obliged to stay within to avoid

flying over the most densely populated residential areas until an altitude of 3000feet
 

To recognise those airlines that have performed well and exceeded the Airport's

track-keeping target, a scheme was set up seven years ago by the Airport and

Conservative MP for Meriden, Caroline Spelman to award the best performers,

called "Operation Pathfinder"

    

At this year's ceremony held in April, Turkish Airlines won the best track-keeping
award in the over 50 flights per month category, boasting a 100% on-track record

Aer Lingus, Eastern Airways, flybe, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson were

also honoured for helping the Airport to meet its track-keeping target and
contributing to the Operation Pathfinder scheme

Birmingham Airport's CEO Paul Kehoe, who was on hand to present the awards,

along with Councillor Ken Meeson, Leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council,

said: "We're extremely proud of the Airport's excellent track-keeping record, which

has continued to improve since the scheme began. I'd like to congratulate the

airlines for their hard work and commitment to the scheme, which has helped us

to achieve another fantastic set of results"
 

Paul added: "We have recently been out on the road visiting our local communities,

speaking to residents about future changes to our flight paths through a series of

public consultations. We are aware that some residents are concerned about aircraft

noise and track-keeping, which is why we hold regular meetings and briefings to
encourage local people to come and talk to us about any issues they may have
about the Airport, so that we can reduce any impact"

Tuesday 7 May 2013