§ 24. Mr. R. Harrisasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware of the noise from the running-up of aeroplane engines at night at London Airport and that it has again become an annoyance to local residents; and if he will report on the latest steps taken by his Department to mitigate this nuisance.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNoise at airports is a perpetual problem. Under arrangements which I have previously announced, the airline operators at London Airport continue to keep night running of 67W engines to a minimum. Where this cannot be avoided B.E.A. use the apron to the West of their new Maintenance Base, thereby making the most effective use of the shielding properties of the building. B.O.A.C. aircraft maintained at their new base and requiring to be run-up at night will make use of the acoustic screen wall.
§ 25. Mr. R. Harrisasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the use of No. 1 runway at London Airport is causing distress and annoyance to residents in Heston and Isleworth by reason of very low flying; and if he will give immediately instructions for discontinuance of the use of No. 1 runway.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am doing all I can to avoid low flying over Heston and Isleworth. To this end, No. 1 Runway is normally used only for take-offs towards and landings from the West. Installation of navigational aids on this runway is however not yet finally completed, and recent periods of easterly winds combined with bad weather have necessitated occasional departures from these arrangements. I regret that these have caused disturbance but I hope this will be infrequent. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."