BIGGIN HILL: Caution over London 2012 Olympic night flight airport plans (From News Shopper)

BIGGIN HILL: Caution over London 2012 Olympic night flight airport plans

9:00am Friday 4th December 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

FLIGHTS in and out of Biggin Hill airport may take place at night to cope with extra visitors during the London Olympics, flight regulators have warned.

But a local campaign group, and the capital's top politicians, have urged caution over the possibility of more flights into London's airports.

The Civil Aviation Authority’s Olympic and Paralympic Steering Group published a document exploring the differences between the number of flights London's airports must handle during the games and the number of flights taking off and landing now.

The document states: “Is there a difference between current system capacity and potential figures? If so how are we going to achieve this?”

It then lists a series of possible solutions including the “derestriction of night flights/noise controls” and “increasing capacity at aerodromes”.

Biggin Hill airport's lease restrictions prevent planes landing between 10pm and 6.30am during the week, and between 8pm and 9am at weekends.

Noise controls

The London Assembly has unanimously agreed a motion against extra night flights in Biggin Hill and London’s other airports.

Caroline Pidgeon AM said: "Many more Londoners than you might expect are affected by night flights.

“If night flights are allowed for the Olympics, it could set the precedent for the future.

“This motion sends a clear message that the London Assembly is against the derestriction of night flights and relaxation of noise controls.”

Bromley Friends of the Earth secretary Ray Watson says the final decision on derestricting night flights would lie with the airport’s landlords, Bromley Council.

He said: “We were aware that two years ago Biggin Hill airport was in discussion with the Olympic authorities about this issue.

“If a request came to use Biggin Hill at night then that decision would need to be made by Bromley Council.

“However, we would urge caution so that no precedent is created.”