To hear an account from Andrew Hall, and other Forum members, regarding Heathrow’s noise complaint service. To include a discussion over the manner noise monitoring is undertaken by the airport.

Andrew Hall introduced the item and explained that Heathrow operates a web tracker system as a mechanism of monitoring air traffic; however it was believed that this system was not completely accurate and would only record passenger flights and not cargo traffic. Andrew Hall explained that if noise levels were shown to increase, but there was no flight recorded as being on the system, it would not be included in Heathrow’s noise measurement statistics. As a result of this, Andrew Hall suggested an increased use in noise tracker microphones in order to monitor noise levels in areas of the Royal Borough with lots of residents. Andrew Hall explained that the best way of recording noise levels was for the microphones to be fitted with tracking logs, as this provided more accurate information on the time and location of flights and allowed it to be compared to Heathrow’s tracking records. He stated that he had had such a microphone fitted to the roof of his property for a number of years.

Cllr Hilton explained that a trial that would produce a steeper gradient for aircraft taking off was currently taking place on 12 routes. One of these routes flies over Windsor, and a noise monitor that had been installed at the Clewer Fields allotment site had been identified as being a useful tool for monitoring the noise on this particular route. Cllr Hilton informed the Forum that independent research suggested that there was an underreporting of noise levels on some Heathrow flights.

The Chairman told the Forum that he had put in frequent noise complaints over flights that had departed Heathrow after 11.30pm. He explained that one of the main culprits was a flight to the Philippines that could leave Heathrow as late as 1am, which due to the age of the aircraft used caused a greater amount of noise than other flights. The Chairman added there was a DHL freighter that frequently took off during the night, as it was required to wait for road traffic to deliver its cargo to the airport.

The Chairman stated that the most recent statistics for Heathrow noise complaints had been published on November 1^st. He said that around 20,000 complaints had been received; of these, 10 individuals accounted for a third. He also noted that the number of complaints had reduced from 25,000 the previous year. The Chairman stated that HACC would be asking for more information on what times complaints would most frequently be lodged, to see if more complaints were made after 10.30pm or 3.55am. 

Murray Barter suggested that the angle at which planes took off from should be looked into as a possible reason for noise levels. He stated that aircraft departing Heathrow would take off at an angle of 4-5 degrees, compared to the 12 degree angle used at Madrid. The Chairman explained that increasing the angle placed additional strain on the aircraft engines and increased fuel consumption.

Cllr Beer suggested that a list of locations suitable for noise monitors in the Royal Borough could be drawn up, stating that places with low levels of background noise would be the most suitable. The Community Protection Principal asked for members to suggest a site for assessment, for discussion at the next meeting and with a view to writing to Heathrow to make the suggestions.

FUTURE AIRSPACE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION - SOUTH

Cllr Hilton introduced the item by explaining the presentation was given at a meeting of the Community Noise Forum by Jane Dawes, Heathrow’s Airside Business Change Manager, the previous week.

Cllr Hilton explained to members that FASI-S was designed to modernise existing airspace infrastructure and was due to be implemented by 2024. The first route to go through the process would be Compton. Cllr Hilton said the potential positives from the project included reduced flight times, reduced delays and cancellations, and a reduction in the impact on the environment. Many of the routes would require aircraft to fly at 9,000ft. It was also stated in the presentation that communities would have a significant role to play in designing the airspace strategy which, importantly from the Royal Borough’s perspective, included an expanded Heathrow.

Cllr Hilton said that the Airspace Change Process would begin in January and would run alongside the Development Consent Order. However, clearly defined flight routes would not be created until after any expansion of Heathrow had been given the appropriate planning permission. Cllr Hilton noted that it would therefore not be known what the noise levels from the new routes, and the direction the noise would be projected in, until after planning permission had been given. The Chairman noted that the illustrative flight paths included in the presentation slides appeared to suggest that all Heathrow departures would be going to the north.

Cllr Hilton stated that the intension of FASI-S was to reduce the number of people who would be adversely affected by noise from air traffic into and out of Heathrow; however he also stated that there appeared to be no information to explain precisely how the performance-based navigation would ensure that this would happen. It was explained that any solution should not have a negative impact on the proposed third runway.

Cllr Hilton said the first of three consultations on FASI-S would be around a set of key design principles that had been identified by Heathrow, which would run for a year. Cllr Hilton stated that he hoped lots of residents would make representations on this consultation, as one of the principles seen as important to Royal Borough residents – minimising the population that is newly exposed to being overflown – was towards the bottom of Heathrow’s list of priorities. He stated that this consultation should be publicised by the Council.

Cllr Hilton informed the Forum that it had been established that the government took overall responsibility for airspace, and that Secretary of State would retain call-in powers over the Strategy.

Michael Sullivan asked if any noise impact assessment had been done regarding the possibility of two aircraft landing in parallel, coming in over Datchet. Cllr Hilton said he would raise this at the next Community Noise Forum.