British Airways is proposing more environmentally friendly higher approaches to London Heathrow airport's runways 27L and 27R.
This would involve displacing the landing thresholds about 800m (2,600ft) into the 3,700m runways so 3° approach paths could be flown 143ft higher over residential areas than at present, which according to BA would reduce noise levels on the ground by 2dB to 3dB on average.
BA's head of flight regulation Capt Tim Steeds claims this would have no negative safety effects no matter what the weather conditions, because the landing distance available would remain the same as the full runway length at London Gatwick airport, which handles intercontinental widebody traffic.
The study is under consideration by the Aircraft Noise Monitoring Committee, says Steeds. Investment would be required by airport operator BAA, he admits, because the instrument landing system glideslope antennas and approach lighting for both runways would have to be moved, but he says that no additional runway exits would be needed in addition to those being constructed anyway for the new Terminal 5.
BA claims the change would take 3,000 local residents out of the socially critical 57 CEQ (equivalent sound level measured over a period of time) contour, and would "reduce the noise impact" on up to 60,000 people.
DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
Source: Flight International
