Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum
General Aviation Discussion => Aviation News => Topic started by: casper on December 15, 2006, 05:01:29 PM
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British Airways has urged the airports operator BAA to support the simultaneous use of both Heathrow runways for take-offs and landings.
BA claims the introduction of "mixed mode" operations would raise capacity by 15 per cent and cut pollution.
At present, runways alternate their operations as a result of an agreement dating back to the 1950s to protect the residents of Cranford, east of the northern end of the runway, from excessive noise.
More Info (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/15/nflight15.xml)
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I was wondering about that as I read the article I mentioned. The runways looked short enoughas is, but when you have to switch directions regardless of winds, that just goes against common sense. A more cost effective way to increase capacity might be to buy houses under flight paths and switch to dual use runways instead of spending the money to buy the houses then build a new runway, only to still have people complaining about the noise. It wouldn't work forever but it'd be a cheaper start.
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It does seem strange that in this day and age that this sort of agreement still exists. As the news report states todays airliners are alot quieter than their predecessors. A modern Boeing or Airbus is alot quiter than an old 707 for example. The agreement should be scrapped for the new generation jets but possibly kept for the old ones.