§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the(a) shortest elapsed recorded, (b) longest and (c) average times recorded between captains of aircraft being given clearance at (i) London Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick airports, and the actual time of touchdown, in the last 12 months. [148137]
380W
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe information requested is not available. The time differences between aircraft pilots being give clearance to land and the actual time of touch down are not recorded, or stored, at either Gatwick or Heathrow airports.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate of sustainable hourly runway movements is being used in the new aviation policy. [148166]
Mr. Robert AinsworthIn the studies we are undertaking in preparation for the new aviation policy, we are not using a single standard assessment of hourly runway movements. The hourly capacity depends on a range of factors, including the separations and staggers between runways, the provision of parallel taxiways and the extent of taxiing movements across runways. We are therefore assessing the capacity of each option individually.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what incidents of go-arounds and late clearances to land at Gatwick airport have been recorded(a) in the last 12 months and (b) in the previous 12 months. [148165]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe number of go-arounds recorded at Gatwick airport were(a) 501 in the year 2000, and (b) 383 in 1999. Clearances to land are not categorised as to their timing and, therefore, the information sought on "late clearances" is not available.
The go-around figures for 2000 are currently being analysed by National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and the airport authority (BAA plc) but there are no indications that weakness/failure in the safety system is to blame for the increase.