Presentation to be received by Jane Dawes, Airside Business Change Manager.

Members received a presentation from Jane Dawes, the Airside Business Change Manager at Heathrow, regarding the Compton 09 flight path. She was accompanied by Cheryl Monk, Head of Community Relationships and Policy at Heathrow.

Mrs Monk said that changes had been made to the Compton route in 2014 as there had been issues with it for several years. Mrs Dawes explained that the Compton route was designated as a Noise Preferential Route, meaning that aircraft had a swathe of airspace 3km wide that they should fly through while operating at less than 4,000ft. However the percentage of aircraft that remained on track using the Compton route was far lower than other routes.

Mrs Dawes went on to explain that Heathrow was trying to redesign the Compton route without affecting other flight paths. A trial PIBUG was carried out in July 2014 but abandoned after one day due to some confusion caused to pilots’ considerations. Mrs Dawes said the Community Noise Forum was set up to help investigate, amongst other items, what redesign options were open.

Cllr Beer arrived at the meeting at 7.28pm.

Mrs Dawes said that it was unlikely the Compton route would be redesigned before the 2020 deadline.

Mrs Dawes said that ANSPs, airlines and Heathrow Airport and the community had each been consulted over their prioritised design principles over flight paths. Both groups indicated that safety was their top priority, with noise levels and their consequent health effects considered a key priority by the community. However tests to establish to what extent there is a correlation between the height a plane flies at – up to 7,000ft - and the amount of noise that is heard at ground level still need to be carried out. Mrs Dawes said that Heathrow wanted to make sure that all aircraft stuck to the Noise Preferential Routes, and that airlines were keen for this process to be carried out and completed in the short term. The Chairman said that the Council agreed that its priority was to consider aircraft noise levels up to a height of 7,000ft.

A member of the public told Members that the main concerns of Datchet residents related to noise pollution and air pollution. He said that most aircraft overfly Datchet at heights of approximately 3,000ft, but A380 aircraft fly lower than that. He suggested that departures should not be concentrated over one flight path. Mrs Monk said that the subject of respite for residents was being included in the Future of Airspace report, but this would not be ready for some years.

A member of the public stated that population growths should be considered as part of the redesign of flight paths.

Another member of the public asked how the Compton route would be affected if the Government ruled that a third runway should be built at Heathrow. Mrs Monk said that a number of indicative flight paths had been submitted, but at the moment it was impossible to say where future flight paths would go as it would depend on the Government policy at that time. She said that the indicative flight paths would also be dependent on a number of factors, which will be determined by future public consultations.

Cllr Beer said that members of the LAANC would appreciate a greater amount of involvement in discussions regarding noise levels.

Mrs Monk told Members that in the event of expansion at Heathrow, morning arrivals would henceforth not be scheduled to land before 5.30am and the airport had not requested any additional morning arrivals. The Leader said that if a third runway was agreed then he would be seeking a legally binding agreement preventing morning arrivals before 5.30am, with the threat of financial penalties if residents are inconvenienced by early morning flights.

A suggestion was made to the Chairman to hold a future session on night flights and landings at Heathrow.

The Chairman thanked the contingent from Heathrow Airport for attending the meeting. The Heathrow Airport representatives left the meeting.