§ Lord KINNAIRDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the height below which aircraft approaching Heathrow are prohibited from flying over Chelsea.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Beswick)My Lords, the height of aircraft approaching Heathrow is controlled by Department of Trade noise abatement regulations and by Air Traffic Control procedures, on which I have been advised by the Civil Aviation Authority. Chelsea is about 10 miles from the touchdown point for aircraft approaching Heathrow from the East, and the Air Traffic Control require aircraft making such approaches to intercept, at a distance of between 8 and 12 miles from touchdown, a radio beam which is projected by the airport's instrument landing system. Aircraft over flying Chelsea before intercepting the radio beam are required by the Department of Trade not to fly below 2,000 feet. Aircraft making an interception before or over Chelsea will be at a height of 2,500 feet and 3,000 feet.
§ Lord KINNAIRDMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for his helpful reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that I am a very light sleeper? Is he also aware that frequently between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., and nearly always on Sundays, residents are literally frightened out of their beds by low-flying aircraft? Is the noble Lord further aware that I have had two letters from the Chairman 1238 of the Civil Aviation Authority, each stating different things? One said, as the noble Lord has just remarked, that aircraft flying over Chelsea are not supposed to descend below 2,000 feet, and the other said 3,000 feet. Which, if either, is correct? In view of this, and bearing in mind both the comfort and safety of residents and passengers alike, is the Minister able to say whether there are any effective means of ensuring that the correct instructions are given, and that those instructions are carried out?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I was not aware that the noble Lord is a light sleeper. I was aware, however, that this is the noble Lord's first Question in this House, and I congratulate him on the way he has put it. As to the situation over the noble Lord's house I sympathise with him to some extent because having made inquiries I find that Durham Place, where the noble Lord lives, lies approximately one-half to three-quarters of a mile North of the extended centre line to runway 28 right; that aircraft approaching from the North and East of London must fly over Durham Place to intersect the ILS beam; and that traffic from the South will pass about half a mile South of Durham Place. So there is quite a Clapham Junction over the noble Lord's house. But it still remains the fact that aircraft should not be below 2,000 feet at the minimum, and are normally between 2,500 and 3,000 feet.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, can the noble Lord say what steps are taken to ensure that air traffic instructions are complied with by aircraft approaching Heathrow from the East? Can he say, for example, whether the flight data recorder traces are ever analysed to ascertain the correct performance of the aircraft; and also whether any secondary radar is available to the approach controllers at Heathrow for this purpose?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I think that the noble Lord, with his technical knowledge and technical curiosity, had better see me outside, when I will give him all the facts. But, briefly, the position is that captains are instructed at what height to fly and they report that they are at that height, as the noble Lord knows. Monitoring is possible and is usually done, and there are penalties for those who contravene the regulations.
§ Baroness HYLTON-FOSTERMy Lords, could the noble Lord give any indication of the height at which an aircraft will be flying when its markings can be read? Further, does he know that I live very near the noble Lord, Lord Kinnaird?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I imagine that it would depend, first, upon the eyesight of the observer and, secondly, upon whether or not the observer is a light sleeper.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, if I may return to my original question, can the noble Lord please say how many infringements of the height regulations have occurred recently, and whether any successful prosecutions have resulted?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, it depends upon what the noble Lord means by infringements. There have been infringements, and the airline company concerned has been warned. The Department of Trade have power to instruct the Airports Authority to withdraw facilities from those airline companies which appear not to observe the regulations. As to prosecutions, the answer is, None.