HACAN ClearSkies

Latest News

Runway Alternation Suspended for Six Weeks

BAA has announced that it will suspend runway alternation for 6 weeks from 13th September to allow work to be done on the northern runway. It means that all flights landing over London will land on the southern runway. For more details check out BAA ‘s website.

Victory Against All The Odds – new book from HACAN on the successful Heathrow Campaign

A new book, written by HACAN Chair John Stewart, has been launched to tie in with the celebration of the 28th August of the victory. It outlines how the campaign to stop expansion at Heathrow, including a third runway, was won.

Below is a paragraph from the introduction:

This book is about a famous victory. It tells the tale of how a group of people took on the might of theaviation industry, international business and the UK Government and won. It is the story of how plans forthe massive expansion of Heathrow Airport, including a third runway, were stopped. The book outlines thestrategy and the tactics used. It is an inspiring story. It is a very human story. But it also contains valuable lessons for campaigners wherever they live and whatever their cause.

Read the book.

Read the HACAN press release.

End Domestic Flights Event

The Campaign Against Climate Change is staging an imaginative event on Saturday 4th September calling for an end to domestic flights with rallies in London and Manchester and, for those who to travel, a train journey in-between! For more details.

Minister Confirms Runway Alternation will continue at Heathrow

Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers has confirmed that runway alternation – the practice whereby flights landing at Heathrow switch runways at 3pm to give residents in the boroughs close to Heathrow respite from the noise – will continue. Below is her response to a Parliamentary Question from Zac Goldsmith.

On 16th June, in Parliament, Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park, Conservative): asked the Secretary of State: "Will the Secretary of State confirm that he will protect runway alternation at Heathrow?". Transport Secretary, Theresa Villiers (Conservative) replied: "I can give that confirmation. We support the current protections of runway alternation. We defeated Labour's proposals for mixed mode when we were in opposition, and we will not revive them now that we are in government." Hansard

HACAN had a constructive meeting with Theresa Villiers last month where she confirmed that the new Government commitment no further expansion at Heathrow and that, more generally, it is seeking to move away from the aggressively expansionist aviation policy pursued by the previous Government.

Government Seeks a ‘Better Not Bigger’ Heathrow

The Government has set up a working party to look at ways of creating a better, not bigger Heathrow. It will look at how introducing more efficient ways to run the airport so that delays and queues can be cut.

HACAN has long argued that a ‘better not bigger’ Heathrow would work for both business and the environment. Read the latest HACAN report.

Transport Secretary Says Domestic Flights Should Become a ‘Thing of the Past’

The Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told the Financial Times in an interview that domestic flights should become a thing of the past. He was attached in a very predicable way by sections of the aviation industry. Read the full story.

New Report: Aircraft noise is no longer just a West London problem

A major study has been published by HACAN which outlines practical measures which would reduce aircraft noise for countless numbers of people living under the Heathrow arrivals flight paths. The study was commissioned in response to the increasing number of complaints about Heathrow noise HACAN received from people living many miles away from the airport and who used not to be affected. The study, carried out for HACAN by the Aviation Environment Federation (AEF), concentrated on those places some distance from Heathrow where aircraft noise has only become a serious problem in the last decade or so. During this time aircraft noise has steadily got worse in areas such as Vauxhall, Clapham, Brixton, South East London, Docklands, parts of North London and, to the west of the airport, places beyond Windsor. The report has identified the reasons why this has happened and suggests remedies. Some of these remedies, such as a steeper approach path, would also benefit areas closer to Heathrow. The report found that the major reason for the spread and increase of the noise lies in the fact that aircraft have started joining their final approach to Heathrow much further out than previously. For many years planes coming from the east used to start their final approach in West London in the Barnes area. But from 1996 onwards they increasingly have joined their final approach path many miles further east. This has resulted in a concentration of flights over areas such as Stockwell and Vauxhall – see the video further down this page. The report recommends three things: 1 the introduction of a steeper approach path (glideslope); 2 the introduction of curved CDA approaches; and 3 the Government reconsiders its policy of concentrating flight paths when aircraft are landing.

Read the full report

Read the HACAN press release