28 February 2006

Buckhurst Cottage, Hever

Present:

Cllr Tim Boyle, Hever Parish Council

Cllr Gerry Ryan, Sevenoaks District Council

Ann Bellamy, Hever Parish Council

Cllr Peter Harrison, Hever Parish Council

Cllr Ann Roberts, Hever Parish Council

Rick Norman, BAA Gatwick

Karen Reeves, BAA Gatwick

The meeting was held to discuss Hever Parish Council's complaints about aircraft flying over the Hever area, especially:

Councillor Boyle asked if flights can be dispersed over other areas, especially when the summer open air theatre is held at Hever Castle.

RN explained the seasonal nature of flights at Gatwick, whereas Heathrow has more scheduled flights.

Hever PC claimed easyJet is one of the main culprits for failing to adhere to CDA. RN explained that easyJet actually has one of the best records for adhering to CDA at Gatwick. easyJet aircraft are more noticeable than other airlines due to their colours/logo, and its business has grown since 9/11 as more people want to go on shorter breaks.

RN explained the system of night flying  - there are a set number of aircraft movements between 23:30 & 06:00. As there are fewer aircraft at night this means that airlines are more likely to achieve CDA.

Hever PC asked why aircraft fly lower than 3,500 feet over Hever. RN explained that aircraft aircraft are usually lower than this height in order to lock on to the Instrument Landing System (ILS). He also said that CDA is not compulsory and should only be followed when practicable.

Hever PC asked if there has been an increase in movements over Hever. RN explained that there has been an increase which is due to the fact that flights have returned to their pre-9/11 levels.

RN said that Hever is on the central approach line to Gatwick's runway and this is why 60 per cent of Gatwick's arriving traffic fly over the area. As the number of flights arriving at Gatwick has increased Air Traffic Control (ATC) is turning more aircraft onto the central approach line at Hever rather than at points nearer to the airport.

Hever PC asked if there is a beacon at Hever for aircraft to lock onto. RN said that there isn't a beacon at Hever, but there is a beam from the airfield which aircraft use to lock onto ILS.

KR mentioned that there had recently been a DfT consultation on night flights. RN said that airlines argued for more night flights, BAA asked to keep the same limits and that campaign groups asked for fewer night flights. He also explained that there has been an increase in night flights at Gatwick because more of the available slots have been used, but the limits have stayed the same, .

Hever PC asked what happens to an airline that disregards CDA. RN explained the complexity of the CDA system (e.g. the work of ATC) and that it would not necessarily be fair to penalise airlines for events beyond their control.

Cllr Harrison said that the noise monitor that was installed at Hever has recorded aircraft noise at 69 decibels. RN explained that the noise levels monitored are averaged over a 16-hour period and that 69 decibels would only be measured for a very short period (e.g. 60 seconds).

Cllr Boyle asked if there is any realistic hope of improving the situation at Hever. RN said that ATC won't change the way they work, but PR Nav trials are being planned which will look at increasing CDA compliance (20 per cent of flights at Gatwick are not compliant).

It was concluded that councillors will visit the Flight Evaluation Unit in mid-May to gain further understanding of aircraft movements over the Hever area.