§ Mr. DayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will consider introducing legislation to give airports the power to impose fines on aircraft deliberately straying from officially recognised approach and departure flight paths. [20465]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Government announced in March 1993 their intention to introduce, at a suitable parliamentary opportunity, new legislation to give aerodromes power to prepare and enforce noise amelioration schemes. The announcement followed extensive consultation, and included consideration of powers to impose fines for poor track keeping.
Noise preferential routes for departing aircraft are in place at most major UK airports. There is, however, no consensus on what constitutes an unacceptable deviation from track, since track keeping, especially on turns, may be affected by operational factors, including weather. Operational factors also make it more difficult to devise comparable routes for landing aircraft.
For safety reasons, air traffic controllers have complete discretion to direct aircraft off noise-preferential routes when necessary.