§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide comprehensive and updated information on the proposed test flights by jet propelled aircraft from London City airport; what is the significance for future use by aircraft not yet able to use the airport by virtue of planning restrictions of definition of, or adjustments to, the public safety zones referred to in Departmental letter XQ/26/08 of 19 April; what is the approximate extent of the public safety zones described by grid co-ordinates attached to the letter; and what assessment(a) the Civil Aviation Authority and (b) his Department have made of the routes now used to and from the airport to Paris since resumption of flying in 1988.
§ Mr. ChannonQuestions about test flights from London City airport (LCY) should be addressed to its owners John Mowlem plc.
The public safety zones (PSZs) at LCY extend outwards in a funnel shape for 600 m. from the end of the runways. At the eastern end, the PSZ co-ordinates take account of both the present runway and its possible extension. If planning permission were granted for an extension, the runway could physically accommodate a wider variety of aircraft than now.
The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for aviation safety regulation including (with the Ministry of Defence) air traffic management. The authority remains of the view that each of the routes identified by its panel of inquiry for use between London City airport and Paris is suitable for that purpose.