Briefing papers
From time to time HACAN ClearSkies produces briefing papers to make it easier for our members and the general public to understand and put the case for sensible aviation policy. Our range of briefing sheets are available in PDF format. You will need to download Acrobat Reader to read them. Print and distribute to friends and neighbours.
Showing all Briefing papers.
How Noisy Are the Planes?
21 June 2010
How Many People Are Affected? The Noise Climate is Getting Worse. More people than ever before are affected by aircraft noise…Key Politicians
21 June 2010
Ministers and MPs, MEPs and GLA Members Addresses. Ministers and MPs can be contacted at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA…Runway Alternation
21 June 2010
What is Runway Alternation? It means that planes flying into Heathrow don’t use the same runway all day long when they are coming into land from the east…Useful Facts
21 June 2010
Heathrow is the busiest international airport in the world. One of the reasons why it is so busy is that it is very cheap for airlines to land there, much cheaper than Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Tokyo…A briefing on aviation emissions and air pollution
25 December 2008
The aviation industry often argues that emissions from aviation are only around 2% of total carbon emissions. These claims are misleading: they are based on out of date information; and they usually refer to a percentage of global emissions when a more relevant comparison would be with total UK emissions. None of them mention that aircraft emissions in the upper atmosphere are especially harmful. This briefing paper gives more realistic numbers, and explains why curbing emissions from aviation is vital if the UK is to meet its commitments on climate change. It concludes by examining air quality issues, and pointing out that the airport in its current form is already breaching EU air quality laws, a situation which expansion can only exacerbate.Airport related noise pollution
25 December 2008
The Government has claimed that a third runway at Heathrow and a significant increase in flight numbers (an increase of almost 50% from 2007 levels by 2030) would not conflict with the existing the noise limits. Indeed, the 2003 aviation White Paper pledged that the runway would only go ahead if it resulted in “no net increase” to the size of the area around Heathrow affected by 57 decibels of aircraft noise, the level deemed to mark “the onset of significant community annoyance”. However, there are serious question marks over the Government’s noise calculation methodology, which understates the extent of the problem and the number of people affected.How you can Help
23 December 2008
HACAN ClearSkies is an action-based organisation which wants to change things. We rely on our members and supporters to make that change happen. We believe that only when we have a large, active, visible membership that the powers-that-be will really listen to what we have to say.There are opportunities to take part in a range of activities including rallies and demonstrations, helping out at street stalls and leafleting your neighbourhood.Night Flights
23 December 2008
How is “night” defined? For the purpose of night flights, there are two “night” periods, as defined by the Government! Although “night” is officially from 11.00pm until 7am, there are only restrictions on the number of flights permitted during the “night quota” period, 11.30pm until 6am. How many flights are allowed at night? On a typical night, no more than 16 flights are allowed between 11.30pm and 6am.Runway Alternation
23 December 2008
What is Runway Alternation? It means that planes flying into Heathrow don’t use the same runway all day long when they are coming into land from the east. One week they will land on the southern runway between 7am and 3pm and use the northern runway from 3pm until 11.30pm. The next week they will switch round. Runway alternation only applies to landings.Third Runway Consultation
23 December 2008
The consultation ended on 27th February. The Government will announce its decision in January 2008. If it gives the go-ahead in principle, it will say it is up to BAA to come up with detailed plans. But any decision to give the go-ahead would meet with furious protests and may not be final as both the Conservatives and theLiberal Democrats say they would scrap Heathrow expansion.Aviation and the Law
21 December 2008
Aviation — above the law? Aviation is virtually above the law. Certainly as far as noise and pollution are concerned. In fact, laws which apply to other areas of noise specifically exclude aviation…Government Policy on Aviation
21 December 2008
The Aviation White Paper. The Government published the Aviation White Paper on 16th December 2003. It set out the Government’s Aviation Policy for the next 30 years…Heathrow Terminal Five
21 December 2008
The go-ahead to build Terminal Five was given in November 2001. Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State at the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), announced that…HACAN’s evidence to Transport Committee of the Scottish Parliament on high-speed rail
01 September 2008
There is evidence that high-speed rail could be a viable alternative to many short-haul flights now using UK airports. 58% of flights at Glasgow Airport are to or from one of the London airports. 100,000 flights a year using Heathrow serve 12 destinations where there is or could easily be a viable rail alternative.Turning Heathrow into London’s Premium Airport
01 June 2008
Report from HACAN on the business case for making Heathrow ‘better rather than bigger’ high-speed rail has a role to play. Read the recent 2M report.CE Delft Report - key points
01 February 2008
Independent Report Questions Value of Heathrow expansion to the economy. A major new report, published today by independent research and consultancy firm CE Delft, undermines the central pillar of the Government’s case for a third runway at Heathrow and offers a viable alternative to expanding capacity.CE DElft Report Questions Value of Heathrow expansion to the economy - report key points
01 February 2008
Independent Report Questions Value of Heathrow expansion to the economy. A major new report, published today by independent research and consultancy firm CE Delft, undermines the central pillar of the Government’s case for a third runway at Heathrow and offers a viable alternative to expanding capacity.Heathrow Expansion Consultation
20 November 2007
What will the Government be consulting on? It will consult on proposals to: • end runway alternation on the existing runways (and introduce mixed mode); • build a 3rd runway and a 6th terminal; • abolish the Cranford Agreement; • and review Westerly Preference.Bureau Veritas Report for HACAN - Aircraft Noise and London Heathrow
15 July 2007
Final Report: Details of how things have changed between 1996 and 2005/6Emissions Impossible
01 February 2006
An assessment of the noise and air pollution problems at Heathrow airport and the measures proposed to tackle themAirport Watch Prospectus
03 November 2005
AirportWatch aims to oppose any expansion of aviation and airports likely to damage the human or natural environment and to promote an aviation policy for the UK which is in full accordance with the principles of sustainable development.Night Flights - An EU Responsibility?
26 September 2005
There has been a lot of discussion about whether the European Union has the powers to tackle night flights under transport and noise legislation. But the evidence is clear. The EU has these powers.Night Flights - the Economic Effect of Restrictions and Bans
26 September 2005
Around 5% of all flights within the European Union land or take off at night. A new study claims that 360,000 jobs in Europe are dependent on night flights.Noise and Night Flights - A major problem across Europe
26 September 2005
Noise is a major problem across Europe. The World Health Organisation is very concerned about it. It’s experts recommended maximum noise levels which all EU have signed up to.The Night Flight Question - A Practical Way to Tackle Night Noise in Europe
26 September 2005
3.6 million people in the EU are exposed to unacceptably high levels of noise from night flights.Night flights rebuttal sheet
19 May 2004
EU Night Flights Ban — Your Questions Answered. A number of questions were raised concerning the call in Written Declaration to ban night flights at European airports…Measuring Noise
28 December 2003
Both the Government and BAA claim that, year on year, fewer people are affected by noise from planes using Heathrow. They claim the noise climate is improving…HACAN ClearSkies Night Flights Court Case — Initial Summary
09 July 2003
This short summary has been written the day after the announcement of the Court…Extracts from Terminal 5 Inquiry Report
23 June 2003
Extracts from Terminal 5 Inquiry Report on Noise and the Importance of the Limit on Flight Numbers. The following extracts from Mr Vandermeer’s report demonstrate…Deception from the beginning: how Heathrow got started
24 October 2002
From ‘Wings over Westminster’, memoirs of Harold Balfour, Aviation Minister during Second World War…
