Off-track aircraft over Menston

Village residents have recently brought to my attention (as your representative on the Airport Consultative Committee) concerns that aircraft are straying outside the Noise Preferential Routing.  As previously reported, the compliance with the NPR has been good (better than 96%) over the winter months.  That still means 4% off-track, but when the level of air traffic has been low and only about 25 flights per day coming off Runway 32, that might amount to 7 flights per week (or 1 per day on average) flying over Menston residences.  That's still 7 too many!

However, activity has increased with the summer schedules and if there are 40 flights departing Runway 32 daily and 5% are off-track, that means potentially 2 flights per day giving cause for concern.  It is not possible for one individual (even me!) to monitor this.

It is essential that any resident who believes a flight to be off-track, excessively noisy or otherwise disturbing, brings it to the attention of LBIA.  This can be done by telephone (tel: 0844 414 3213 or fax: 0844 414 3301, contact = Tracey Stevenson, LBIA Environmental Officer), or in writing to the aiport, or by using the Complaint Form on the LBIA website via this link to the LBIA website. 

It is not the Community Association's responsibility, nor is it practical, for MCA to raise the complaint on your behalf, but it will act on your behalf if your complaint is not acted upon or not handled satisfactorily.  The number of complaints is monitored at the Consultative Committee and any matter of general concern about the airport or overflying can, and will, be raised on behalf of residents.  Your representative(s) can only act upon issues that we know about, so (as long as you have complained first) please do not hesitate to contact Alan Elsegood on 01943 873497.

Some residents spoke to me after the recent Neighbourhood Forum, but did not follow-up by contacting me as I suggested.  Please do TAKE ACTION, as the problem will not go away unless we continue to apply pressure for compliance with the proper flight routing. Anyone who needs additional information about the NPR flight-path, the exempted types of aircraft, night-time flying hours etc., is invited to contact me.

Alan Elsegood, Chairman, MCA