§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what variations in flight paths and regulations of night flights have been made in the last two years over, or in relation to, flights above the(a) county boroughs of (i) Thurrock and (ii) Southend, (b) the county of Essex and (c) the London boroughs to the east of Central London; and when the relevant hon. Members were consulted. [72147]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe routes followed by aircraft taking off from City and Stansted airports, and those followed by aircraft inbound to the Lambourne holding position (stack) over SW Essex used by aircraft waiting to land at Heathrow, have not changed in the last two years. Aircraft preparing to land at City, Heathrow and Stansted are managed tactically by air traffic control within controlled airspace set aside for the purpose which also has not changed over this period. Much of the airspace over Essex, including that over Thurrock below an altitude of 2500ft and over Southend below an altitude of 3500ft, does not form part of the controlled airspace of the London Terminal Control Area and is available for use by general aviation.
Restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have not been changed in the last two years, but future arrangements to apply from 31 October 1999 were the subject of a consultation paper issued by my Department on 17 November 1998, Official Report, column 492, with a closing date for responses of 12 February 1999. The consultation paper included details of the Early Morning Landings Trial for aircraft approaching to land at Heathrow from the east. As a result of the trial, which began in September 1995, more aircraft are joining Heathrow's instrument landing system at higher altitudes further from touchdown, including over London boroughs east of Central London, but there have been no variations to flight paths over Essex.