BA claim aircraft noise can be reduced using shorter landing

---

although Clearskies are skeptical

In a recent report British Airways claim that by shortening the landing, noise over West London will be reduced which they believe will effect 65,000 people under the flight path.  An additional claim is that it would no longer be expose the 3000 resident of Putney & Fulham to the current 57 decibels of aircraft noise "which the Government deems to cause serious annoyance".

The aircraft would fly 140ft higher all the way across London and land a quarter of the way down the two-mile runway at Heathrow. Whereas current practice means the wheels touch down 150 yards from the beginning of the runway.

Their proposal would cover all airlines flying in to Heathrow and is an attempt to reduce the impact of the extra 200 flights a day planned once Terminal 5 opens in four years.  3,000 living in the Fulham and Putney area of West London would d to the 57 decibels which the Government deems to cause serious annoyance.

BA say that thee is no increased risk of overshooting by pilots as the pilots would have the same runway length as at Gatwick. It would require changes to layouts of lights and landing systems which they are currently discussing with BAA, the owners of Heathrow.

Campaigners against aircraft noise, ClearSkies believe these changes would only have an effect on residents directly surrounding Heathrow.

�We suspect this has less to do with easing the noise disturbance than paving the way for mixed mode.

July 13, 2004