HC Deb 22 July 1970 vol 804 cc525-6
24. Mr. Allason

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will select flight paths from Luton airport which avoid flying beneath the Heathrow control zone.

Mr. Corfield

No, Sir. Under present arrangements, aircraft operating from Luton airport to the airways system are not required to fly beneath the London terminal control area. The routeing of aircraft northwards out of the London terminal control area after westerly takeoff is impracticable for safety and operational reasons, and would increase noise disturbance to Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.

Mr. Allason

Can my hon. Friend explain why aircraft from Luton airport are flying at below 3,000 ft. for 15 miles across my constituency, producing noise intolerable by day and quite unacceptable by night?

Mr. Corfield

I have obsolutely no evidence that they are flying so low or for so long, but if my hon. Friend will provide me with evidence I will look into it and try to identify the aircraft concerned.

34. Mr. Madel

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will retain the present flight paths from Luton Airport until he has received the report of the Roskill Commission on the siting of the Third London Airport.

Mr. Corfield

The choice of precise flight paths from Luton airport is a matter for the owners, Luton Corporation, within the overall pattern of airspace arrangements laid down by the Board of Trade. Operations from a third London airport are many years off and are not, therefore, relevant to the short-term pattern of flights from Luton.

Mr. Madel

As there is increasing noise, even on the present flight paths out of Luton, can my hon. Friend say whether the Government have any plans for accelerating the development of quieter aero engines either by ourselves or in conjunction with other Western European countries? Will he press for quieter engines in short haulage jets flying from Luton airport?

Mr. Corfield

My hon. Friend will be aware that from next January an Order is to come into force which will restrict the noise of new aircraft coming into operation substantially below existing levels. This will entail, we hope, a gradual quietening of aero engines to something like 50 per cent. of the noise level in relation to the some weight of aircraft as at present.