The maps, recently published by GACC, showing the probable new flight paths if there were to be a new runway at Gatwick have caused widespread consternation. GACC has received many enquiries from councils surprised that their areas are likely to be affected. These include anxious queries from people who live in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which surround Gatwick on three sides.

These areas are recognised nationally as places of beauty and peace and are visited by over a million people each year in search of quiet relaxation. All the AONBs are on high ground and therefore the impact of aircraft noise is greater eg Leith Hill.

When Gatwick Airport claim that ‘only’ 29,000 people would be affected by noise from a new runway, and that this fewer than at Heathrow, they ignore the impact on the million or so people who enjoy the peace of the AONBs.

Stuart McLauchlan writes for Coldharbour: “People visit the Surrey Hills AONB because of the stunning, unspoilt countryside within easy reach of London. There are many notable attractions such as Leith Hill Tower with its famous view of 13 counties, the Rhododendron Woods of Leith Hill Place, the recently restored Holmbury ancient monument and hundreds of miles of footpaths and bridleways winding their way through this beautiful land. These visits are enhanced by the peace and tranquility of the AONB which would be shattered if the Gatwick take-of route from the new runway was routed directly overhead”

It is up to Gatwick Airport Ltd in conjunction with National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to publish more accurate maps of the proposed routes so that the public can be aware of the probable consequences of a new runway.

The Parish Council will be discussing the latest information available on the proposed new routes at their meeting in September with more information available regarding this in August.

Jackie Coke, Clerk to the Council 01306 712447

The Gatwick Airport Conservation Campaign has published illustrative but not definitive maps of take-off and landing routes from a second Gatwick runway. The maps can be viewed at www.gacc.org.uk/latest-news. Gatwick Airport Ltd have stated that they are looking for a location for a new runway between the airport and Crawley. In 2003 when a similar proposal was last discussed, BAA, the then owners of Gatwick. stated that any new runway south of the existing runway would need to be operated in mixed mode, that is, being used both for landing and for taking-off as is the case with the existing runway. The existing runway would also need to continue in mixed mode. At Heathrow. which has two runways, one is used for landings and one for take­ offs, which is called segregated mode. That is practicable because four out of the five terminals lie between the runways.

At Gatwick, however, the two existing terminals lie to the north of the existing runway. It would not be possible to operate a two-runway Gatwick in segregated mode because aircraft using the new southern runway would need to cross the existing runway to reach the existing terminals. The only practicable way to operate a two-runway Gatwick would be in mixed mode, so that aircraft using the existing runway would use the existing terminals, and aircraft using the southern runway would use a new terminal between, or to the south of, the runways.

Gatwick Airport Ltd have stated that they are consldering a close parallel runway or a wide spaced runway. In the case of a close parallel runway, arrivals and departures would need to be synchronised in order to avoid dangerous wake turbulence. That would severely limit the capacity of the airport, and is unlikely to appeal to the Airports Commission.

The maps are therefore based on a so-caned ‘Wide-spaced’ runway as shown in the 2003 Air Transport White Paper, and in the 2012 Gatwick Master Plan, 1,035 m to the south of the existing runway -the closest together that is permitted under international regulations for independent operation.

Take-off routes. With independent mixed mode operation it would frequently occur that two aircraft were taking-off Simultaneously, in the same direction one from each runway. Initially they would be on two parallel tracks 1,035 m apart. Flight paths would need to be designed to avoid mid­ air collisions.

When taking-off towards the west, the safest route would be for aircraft from the new southern runway to peel off left, close to Horsham. Alternatively they might be directed to take a Wide swing round to the north and then to the east, taking them over the Surrey Hills AONB, and the southern side of Dorking, Reigate and Redhill.

Aircraft taking-off towards the east would need new flight paths, with the existing flight path to the south-east (Seaford Easterly) having to be moved further east, possibly over East Grinstead (shown on the map as a dashed blue line).

Approach paths. Most aircraft approach Gatwick from the east, keeping to a straight ‘glide-path’ for the final 10-15 miles.

With two runways operating independently. for the final 10-15 miles there would need to be two parallel approach paths, one kilometre apart. So the approach path for the new southern runway from the east would pass directly over Dormansland.

At present aircraft fly on a wide variety of routes over Sussex (all passing over the Ashdown Forest AONB) before joining the final approach path. If that dispersed system continues, the effect of a new runway would be merely to double the number of aircraft in the sky. In a few years’ time however, as a result of improved navigational equipment, the flight paths are likely to be concentrated onto a few routes in the same area. With two runways and twice the number of aircraft, the number of such concentrated routes would be likely to double. Itis not known where these routes might be -the maps are purely illustrative. A similar situation would apply for aircraft approaching from the west. There would be two parallel approach paths I km apart for the final 10-15 miles. And double the number of concentrated flight paths approaching from the south.

JACKIE COKE, Clerk to the Council, 01306 712 447