Skies over Peterborough and Cambridgeshire could see more aircraft ‘stacking’ for London airports

The London Luton Air Space (Stack) Consultation would see proposed changes to the arrivals flightpaths and stacking arrangements for London Luton Airport (LLA).

Speaking to members of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Transport and Infrastructure Committee at their online meeting (January 6), Tim Bellamy, Transport Strategy & Policy Officer said: “LLA and London Stansted Airport (STN) are among the busiest airports in the UK, and they share the same arrival flightpaths to the same holding areas.

“LLA and the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) say that if air traffic returns to its pre-pandemic growth, then these flightpaths and stacking areas will be overcrowded and delays will result.

“They’re proposing separating the two airports’ flightpaths and holding areas by establishing new ones for Luton’s arrivals.

“The newly developed options have holding stacks requiring aircraft to circle above 8,000ft over parts of Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire.

“The difference between the two options is in the route from the holding stack to the final landing path: For Option 1 the exact route will be determined for each plane by air traffic control. However, for Option 2 around half the arrivals will be given one of two defined routes which could mean aircraft movements over southern and central Cambridgeshire and possibly even as far north as Peterborough.”

Metro Mayor, James Palmer added: “The views of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee members are sought as part of a consultation process running from  January 1, 2021 until  February 5, 2021, which is in advance of the next Committee meeting on March 10, 2021.”

Cllr Aidan Van de Weyer (LibDem, South Cambs District Council), asked: “Is this proposal going to see increased numbers of aircraft over our population areas, or are we simply looking at the same numbers of aircraft movements but the stacking of them being organised over a different piece of the ground to provide better spacing?”

Paul Raynes replied: “There may be some increases in the numbers of flight movements as time goes by especially if the proposed improvements and enlargement of LLA and STN are to commence.

“But, in principle most people in population areas from St Neots to Peterborough will notice very little difference in terms of noise or pollution.

“The stacking takes place at a height around 8,000 feet, which means noise levels of around 59 decibels – about the same as a normal conversation or a dishwasher.”

The main consultation issues concern:

Noise pollution – both options include the development of a new holding stack over parts of Huntingdonshire and  Cambridgeshire where aircraft would be at 8,000ft altitude.

The Airspace Consultation Document notes that the typical noise that an observer on the ground might expect to experience from an arriving aircraft between 7,000 – 8,000ft would be 59-57 decibels for a turboprop aircraft.

This is equivalent noise level to that of a normal conversation and a dishwasher.

Air quality – in 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. The target requires the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The consultation documents outline that most arrivals to LLA will be required to travel further for both Option 1 and Option 2.Using a combination of the NATS fuel analysis simulator and appropriate scaling of traffic levels, it is noted in the Airspace Consultation document that the average LLA arrival in 2022 is expected to increase fuel use by c.89kg, emitting c.285kg more CO2eDetails of the consultation including a walk-through animation of the full proposal including Options One and Two can be found online at: https://www.nats.aero/vr/ad6