GATWICK CAMPAIGN GROUPS AT NO.10
Nicholas Soames and his Parliamentary colleagues join Gatwick Campaign Groups as they take their protest against a second runway to No 10. Monday, 23rd March, 2015.
TEXT OF THE LETTER:
23rd March 2015
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
Westminster
London
SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister
All Gatwick Campaign Groups - The United Message
This statement of objectives, below, has been developed in response to the existing and potentially negative impacts of airspace changes at Gatwick Airport.
The re-organisation of airspace infrastructure around Gatwick has led to the introduction of changes in aircraft routing, based on technology changes in order to increase the runway throughput.
The changes have failed to properly take account of the impact of aircraft noise and noise shadows on the communities affected and have failed to meet government policy that is to reduce the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise.
More people are now significantly affected by aircraft noise and further use of concentration will only exacerbate this statistic.
We, the undersigned, therefore propose the following:
The United Message
To Strongly oppose the building of a new runway at Gatwick Airport.
Arrivals
- Using PBN to achieve maximum dispersal of flight approach paths without using merge points.
- Using PBN to achieve the greatest possible safe height with smooth Continual Descent Approach at all times
- Noise and noise shadow rather than Co2 to be the primary environmental consideration down from 6,000 feet in the design of all arrival routes
- No night flights (currently defined as 11.30pm -6am)
Departures
- Using PBN to achieve the maximum dispersal of flight departure paths (restricted to areas previously overflown) within Noise Preferential Routes
- Using PBN to achieve the greatest possible safe height with smooth Continual Ascent Departure at all times
- Noise and noise shadow rather than Co2 to be the primary environmental consideration up to 6,000 feet in the design of all departure routes
- No night flights (currently defined as 11.30pm -6am)
We wish to record the fact that communities within our groups are in tranquil, rural areas and are significantly affected by noise below 10,000ft. We are hopeful that the plight of these communities can be improved through our proposed change in policy to use PBN for maximum dispersal for flight arrivals and departures.
The Airbus (single aisle aircraft series) design fault
Issue: The A320 series of aircraft have a design fault in their wing fuel filler caps, which cause a debilitating whine. A straightforward fix exists via the fitting of a ‘vortex generator’
Resolution: Ensure the retrofitting of vortex generators to correct this fault on aircraft used by operators at the soonest opportunity, by all means possible
Signatories on behalf of communities in West Sussex, Surrey, East Sussex and Kent:
CAGNE Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions
ESCCAN East Sussex Communities for the Control of Air Noise
GACC Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
GON Gatwick Obviously Not.org
PAGNE Pulborough Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions
Plane Wrong Plane Wrong
Also representing –
CAGNE East Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions East
LGVS Langton Green Village Society
SPAG Speldhurst Action Group