Annex B: Night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted from October 2006
Annex B: Assessments for Directive 2002/30
European Directive 2002/30 and SI 2003 No. 1742 require certain information to be considered in making decisions on operating restrictions. This was explained in the Stage 1 consultation paper at paragraph 3.23. This annex sets out where the specified information including the assessments of the new measures has been provided.
Current Inventory
A description of the airport including information about its capacity, location, surroundings, air traffic volume and mix and runway mix.
This was included in the stage 1 consultation paper at annex B, pages 36 - 38.
A description of the environmental objectives for the airport and the national context.
In the stage 1 consultation (paragraphs 3.1-3.7 and 6.1-6.7) we included a statement of our broad aims for the night restrictions and an invitation to suggest environmental objectives and specific noise abatement objectives for each of the airports. Consultees were also asked to comment on what would be an appropriate baseline to set objectives against.
In the stage 2 consultation paper (chapter 4) we described proposals for specific environmental and noise abatement objectives for each airport and which base year we intended to assess the objectives against. Consultees were asked to comment on proposals for environmental and noise abatement objectives in both stages of the consultation. The Secretary of State's final decisions are included in the decision document and final regulatory impact assessment (paragraphs 35-44).
Details of noise contours for the current and previous years - including an assessment of the number of people affected by aircraft noise. Description of the computational method used to develop the contours.
Noise contours were provided in annex C of the stage 1 consultation paper along with a description of the ANCON 2 computer model used to produce the contours. As explained in paragraphs 4.2-4.13 of the stage 1 consultation paper, the contours provided included those using the indicators Lden and Lnight (for both 6.5 and 8 hours) for each airport, consistent with the guidelines in EU Directive 2002/49. Contours for night time noise had not previously been produced so those for 2002/2003 and calendar year 2003 were provided.
A description of measures to reduce aircraft noise already implemented: for example, information on land-use planning and management; noise insulation programmes; operating procedures such as PANS-OPS; operation restrictions such as noise limits, night limits/curfew, noise charges; preferential runway use, noise preferred routs/track-keeping, and noise monitoring.
A full description of noise abatement and mitigation measures already in place at the airports in respect of night time noise was included in annex B (pages 39-50) of the stage 1 consultation paper. After the stage 1 consultation exercise, consultees requested further information on track keeping, CDA compliance and noise infringements which was then included in annex B of the stage 2 consultation paper.
Forecast without new measures
Descriptions of airport developments (if any) already approved and in the programme, for example, increased capacity, runway and/or terminal expansion and the projected future traffic mix and estimated growth.
A description of airport developments for each airport was included in the current inventory in annex C (page 57-63) of the stage 1 consultation paper. Proposals for growth in accordance with The Future of Air Transport White Paper published in 2003 were included although there are no plans for additional runway capacity to be available for use before 2012 at any of three airport.
In case of airport capacity extension, the benefits of making that additional capacity available.
There is a significant amount of physical runway capacity available at night at all three airports. There have been restrictions on night flights for many years for environmental reasons and to minimise sleep disturbance. The current assessments relate to the night flying restrictions to apply from October 2006 - October 2012 only.
A description of effect on noise climate without further measures and of those measures already planned to lessen that noise impact over the same period.
Described in the stage 1 consultation paper at annex C (page 57-63).
Forecast noise contours-including an assessment of the number of people likely to be affected by aircraft noise-distinguish between established residential areas and newly constructed residential areas.
Noise abatement objectives in the form of noise contours for 2011-2012 were provided at annex C of the stage 2 consultation paper. We noted in the consultation paper (paragraph 4.20) that the shape of the contours will in practice be influenced by the modal split (proportions of easterly and westerly operations), by details of aircraft fleet, by pattern of departure routes and their relative usage, by the proportions of arrivals and departures and by various other factors. Therefore these contours were included as a guide only. There are no newly constructed residential areas of significant proportions within these contours.
Evaluation of the consequences and possible costs of not taking action to lessen the impact of increased noise-if it is expected to occur.
A description of the consequences of not continuing with restrictions of night flying is included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment as are assessments of the range of options (from paragraph 90).
Assessment of additional measures
Outline of the additional measures available as part of the different options mentioned in Article 4(1) and in particular an indication of the main reasons for their selection. Description of those measures chosen for further analysis and fuller information on the cost of introducing those measures; the number of people expected to benefit and timeframe; and a ranking of the overall effectiveness of particular measures.
Assessment of the cost/effectiveness or cost/benefit of the introduction of specific measures, taking account of the socio-economic effects of the measures on the users of the airport: operators (passenger and freight); travellers and local communities.
An overview of the possible environmental effects and competitive effects of the proposed measures on other airports, operators and other interested parties.
Reasons for selection of the preferred option.
The assessments described above are included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment. Information about the likely economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of the proposals are included throughout the regulatory impact assessment. Assessment of the various different options were included in the stage 1 and stage 2 consultation papers including effects of the proposals for noise quotas on the specific noise abatement objectives. A competition assessment, stating the potential impacts of other sectors of the industry is in the regulatory impact assessment (paragraphs 175-183). Reasons for selecting the prefered options are contained in the decision document and regulatory impact assessment.
A non-technical summary.
A non technical summary of the proposals for movements limits and noise quotas for the night quota period (2330-0600) is in the regulatory impact assessment (paragraph 204).
