HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 cc107-9W
60. Mr. Jessel

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to reduce aircraft noise at Heathrow.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is undertaking various measures to fulfill our commitment to reduce aircraft noise around Heathrow. New restrictions on night flights at Heathrow were introduced in April, limiting the further growth of night movements. We shall be closely monitoring the effect of the new restrictions. We are reviewing with the airport the 1980 noise insulation grants scheme, so that it fully meets the criteria originally laid down, by extending the boundary slightly in one or two places. We are taking an active role in international discussions aimed at phasing out the next most noisy group of subsonic jets (the chapter 2 types), and will next year make regulations preventing the addition of any more of these aircraft to the United Kingdom fleet after 1 October 1990 in line with the ECAC recommendation.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by United Kingdom airport the steps taken to phase out the operation of noisy jets at night.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Non-noise-certificated subsonic jets have not been allowed to operate by day or night from or to United Kingdom airports since 1 January 1986 if on the United Kingdom register, or 1 January 1988 if on foreign registers. The next noisiest group of aeroplanes covers those certificated to ICAO's annex 16, volume 1 chapter 2 standards, and the Government are playing a leading role internationally in developing controls to limit their use. It is recognised that this will be a long and expensive process.

For the purposes of night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, the noise-certificated types of aircraft have been divided into three categories. Those in the noisiest category have not been allowed to make planned movements at night since 1 April 1987. From 1 April 1988 further restrictions on the middle category of aircraft have been introduced at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Night restrictions at other airports are a matter for the airport operators.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department gives to(a) airports and (b) aircraft operators on the application by pilots of full climbing power to aircraft over residential areas; and what monitoring of the observations of that guidance is conducted.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Aircraft operators using Heathrow and Gatwick airports are required to observe climb-out procedures as follows:

Departing aircraft shall be at a height of at least 1,000 ft over the relevant noise monitor: thereafter they shall maintain a gradient of climb of at least 4 per cent. to an altitude of at least 4,000 ft (Heathrow) or 3,000 ft (Gatwick). Thrust management shall ensure that progressively reducing noise levels at points on the ground under the flight path beyond the noise monitor are achieved.

We have not yet issued such guidance to operators of aircraft using Stansted airport. At other airports guidance on climb procedures is a matter for the airport operators.

Captains of airliners do not normally refer to ground features, but instrument navigational instructions for departure routes take residential areas into account so far as is practicable.

At Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, periodic radar based sample surveys show the track-keeping and altitude performances of aircraft on departure routes.

Airports do not receive guidance from us on aircraft climb procedures.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on(a) financial and (b) other penalties airports (i) can and (ii) do impose on operators of excessively noisy aircraft.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

It is possible for airport operators to take noise performance into account when levying charges on aircraft operators. They can also make compliance with noise control measures a condition of use of airports. At Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports there are no financial penalties. The Department has power to require the operators of these airports to deny use of the airports. At Heathrow and Gatwick each infringement of the night take-off noise limit results in the loss of one movement slot in the quota of permitted night movements. Detailed information on practice at other airports is not available.

Mr. Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with Manchester airport the inclusion on its airport consultative committee of representatives from local authorities affected by excessive aircraft noise.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

No. The constitution of the airport consultative committee is a matter for Manchester Airport plc which is required to consult adequately by section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.