Night Flights Consultation - Delayed

Unconfirmed report that the Consultation on night flights in the UK has been delayed to allow for the consideration  of SONA night 2014.

LAANC Factsheet Date Correction

Following the last Council meeting the dates of the next LAANC meetings have been checked and are as follows:


Executive: 9th November 2018,  10:30 am

Council : 7th December 2018,  10.30 am

The dates on the fact sheet are incorrect and should be ignored.

New WHO noise guidelines for Europe released

10 October 2018

The revised WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region provide strong evidence that noise is one of the top environmental hazards to both physical and mental health and well-being.

Officially launched to countries and stakeholders in Basel, Switzerland on 10 October 2018, the document identifies levels at which noise has significant health impacts and recommends actions to reduce exposure. For the first time, a comprehensive and rigorous methodological framework was applied to develop the recommendations.

What is new

Compared to previous WHO guidelines on noise, this version contains five significant developments:

·        stronger evidence of the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of environmental noise;

·        inclusion of new noise sources, namely wind turbine noise and leisure noise, in addition to noise from transportation (aircraft, rail and road traffic);

·        use of a standardized approach to assess the evidence;

·        a systematic review of evidence, defining the relationship between noise exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes;

·        use of long-term average noise exposure indicators to better predict adverse health outcomes.

Driving policy action to protect communities from health effects of noise

Targeted at decision-makers and technical experts, the new guidelines aim to support legislation and policy-making at local, national and international level.

Although the guidelines focus on the European Region and provide guidance consistent with the European Union’s Environmental Noise Directive, they also have global relevance. The large body of evidence underpinning the recommendations was derived not only from noise effect studies in Europe but also from research in other parts of the world, mainly America, Asia and Australia.

The guidelines also highlight data and research gaps to be addressed in future studies.

Recommendations related to Aircraft Noise

For average noise exposure, the Guideline Development Group (GDG)  strongly recommends reducing noise levels produced by aircraft to below 45 dB Lden, as aircraft noise above this level is associated with adverse health effects.

For night noise exposure, the GDG strongly recommends reducing noise levels produced by aircraft during night time to below 40 dB Lnight, as aircraft noise above this level is associated with adverse effects on sleep.

To reduce health effects, the GDG strongly recommends that policy-makers implement suitable measures to reduce noise exposure from aircraft in the population exposed to levels above the guideline values for average and night noise exposure. For specific interventions the GDG recommends implementing suitable changes in infrastructure.  Examples of infrastructure changes given include the opening and closing of runways and the redesign of flight paths.

Report Abstract -  Click here

Report Executive Summary - Click here

Main Report - Click here

High Court decision Allows Judicial review of the Airport's National Policy Statement

4th October 2018

The legal battle over the government's decision to approve the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport will proceed, after the High Court granted permission for five legal challenges against expanding the airport to proceed to full hearings.

Justice Holgate confirmed the cases lodged by five different parties - including environmental campaigners and a group of Councils around the airport  will be heard over 10 days in March 2019.

Critics argue Heathrow expansion is incompatible with the UK's long-term climate targets and is incompatible with statutory carbon budgets, in addition to leading to increased local noise and air pollution upon a growing population.

Proponents of Heathrow Airport expansion, however, argue the project is necessary for boosting jobs and growth, and that improvements in aviation technology will make the new runway compatible with long term carbon and air quality targets.

Many legal challenge supporters contend that immensely increased activity related to 54% more flights will inevitably escalate surface transport congestion, exacerbate the existing housing crisis and escalate the costs of scarce business premises to totally uneconomic and unsustainable levels.

The five parties challenging the UK government's decision this summer to grant permission for a third Heathrow runway at the High Court are: a consortium including the local authorities of Hillingdon, Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead, Greenpeace, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan; Heathrow Hub Limited - promoters of a rival scheme to expand Heathrow; Friends of the Earth; Plan B, an environmental campaign group; and Neil Spurrier, a Twickenham resident.

CAA Draft Airspace Modernisation Strategy Consultation Closes by 10 September 2018

The CAA is consulting on its Draft Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

Point 5 of the executive summary states "The strategy sets out the ends, ways and means of modernising airspace. The ends are derived from UK government and relevant international policy and the ways of achieving them include new airspace design, new operational concepts and new technologies. To establish the means of delivering modernised airspace, such as the resources needed, this strategy requires deployment plans be drawn up including, in the future, a macro-level roadmap to be drawn up detailing the interdependent. airspace changes that are deemed necessary and when."

The preamble to the consultation can be found on this link.   Click Here

The strategy can be found on this link:   Click Here

Responses are invited before 10th September 2018

Proposal for a Third Runway at Heathrow Approved by Parliament

On 25th June 2018, the UK Parliament voted to approve the "Airports National Policy Statement: new runway capacity and infrastructure at airports in the South East of England" as presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 9(8) of the Planning Act 2008.

The document outlines Government policy relating to airport expansion in the south east of England with a third runway at Heathrow being its favoured option. 

Opponents of the project have six weeks from the 25th to challenge the scheme in the High Court via judicial review.

It is up to  Heathrow Airport Limited (or a third party), to apply for a development consent order for the project to proceed, depending on the result of any court proceedings.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 with the runway opening in 2026.

The policy document can be found here 

Further information on the planning process can be found here. 

LAANC Appreciation of Gerry Ceaser and temporary Administration arrangements

LAANC Appreciation of Gerry Ceaser, February 2018

It is with great regret and sadness that we inform Members and others that LAANC Vice President Gerry Ceaser unexpectedly died over the weekend of 24^th / 25^th February after a short illness. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife Zandra who shared the LAANC Administrator role with Gerry and before that had served LAANC as its Secretary. 

Gerry was truly Mr LAANC as he actively served in leading roles guiding LAANC for over 20 years, many as its Chairman and thereafter as its Co-Administrator. LAANC is deeply indebted to Gerry and Zandra.

Gerry’s early years on LAANC coincided with his Leadership of Spelthorne Borough Council, being its Mayor and honoured as a Freeman of that Borough, which helped us to appreciate Spelthorne Council Offices as the host location of our meetings.  His knowledge of aviation activity and perceptive mind will be sorely missed in our meetings and others such as the Heathrow Community Noise Forum, Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee and its Steering Group.

Colin Stanbury, the LAANC Director, has kindly offered to handle Administrative matters and contacts on a temporary basis until new arrangements are agreed. He can be contacted via info@laanc-heathrow.org.uk or on 07778 284309.