Flight path reorganisation prompts airport to stage public consultation

Birmingham Airport is running a two-month public consultation into a reorganisation of airspace to the north of Birmingham.

The consultation, which starts next month, will highlight which residents might be affected by changes to flightpaths from the airport.

The new flight paths are being implemented as part of a national programme to modernise UK airspace, which aims to utilise new technology to provide a more efficient airspace system for the UK.

The changes will result in the removal of a number of fixed ground radio beacons – known as VOR’s – and the reorganisation of airspace to the north of the city.

The consultation is part of an ‘Airspace Change Process’, which the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires the airport to carry out due to changes to flight paths.

CAA Policy dictates that any significant changes to UK Standard Instrument Departures routes (SIDs), which are a set of instructions published for pilots and air traffic controllers, must be designed in accordance with international criteria.

Birmingham Airport is the UK’s third largest airport outside London, and the UK’s seventh largest overall, handling around twelve million passengers a year.

David Winstanley, Chief Operating Officer at Birmingham Airport, said: “These consultations are an essential part of the process when submitting an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) and are subject to review and approval by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

“Aside from technical flying constraints, we also analyse the impact on surrounding communities and take the views of our local stakeholders very seriously. These consultations give an opportunity for dialogue, characterised by an open and honest approach which aims to build understanding, trust and mutual respect. We really encourage local communities to attend.”

The consultations will start on Tuesday July 4 and will run for eight weeks.