Gatwick Airport’s Plan to Increase Capacity (Without Increasing Noise)
Jackie Reddy October 26, 2018
LGW has revealed that it’s seeking permission to use its standby runway to increase capacity. Unveiling its vision in a draft master plan, LGW said that the use of this runway would allow for greater capacity at the airport and reiterated that this, in turn, will not result in an increase in noise.
London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW) has unveiled that it is seeking permission to use its standby runway to increase capacity and has unveiled plans as to how exactly this runway will be used, Get.com reports.
Covering the finer points of LGW’s proposal, which has been revealed in a draft master plan, the outlet states that this extra runway would only be used in order to accommodate smaller planes, and “would allow London Gatwick Airport to service more planes in a timely manner.” It also adds that the airport “would not land planes at the same time on both runways.”
According to a statement on the airport’s website, “Under its current planning agreement, Gatwick’s existing standby runway is only used when the main runway is closed for maintenance or emergencies. However, the 40-year planning agreement will come to an end in 2019. The draft master plan sets out for the first time how Gatwick could potentially bring its existing standby runway into routine use for departing flights, alongside its main runway, by the mid-2020s.”
While those who live in the areas close to and surrounding the airport have been vocal in their concerns over these plans, the airport has said that any increased use of the standby runway would not necessarily result in an increase in aircraft noise. “While in the early stages of exploration, Gatwick is confident the project would remain within the existing airport footprint and existing framework for airport charges,” it stated.
“Should the airport decide to further progress the use of the existing standby runway, it would submit a detailed planning proposal … which would include a full public consultation,” it added.
Offering his comments, Stewart Wingate, LGW’s chief executive officer, said, “Our draft master plan marks the start of a new phase for Gatwick – building on what has made the airport the success it is today, and pioneering again to take advantage of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.”
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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Forty years is definitely long enough to allow anyone who lived near Gatwick's extra runway prior to the agreement existing to have moved or died. Since nearly everyone living there now thus moved there knowing (or capable of finding out) that the forbearance agreement had a lifespan, I do not think they should now be protesting Gatwick planning to fully use it. Nobody forced anyone to live by a runway.