Contents
SASIG 2013/14 Meeting Dates
Regional News
Industry News
European News
Parliamentary News
Government News
Media News
SASIG 2014/15 Meeting Dates
27 June 2014
24 October 2014
13 March 2015
Meetings are held at Local Government House, Smith Square, SW1P 3HZ, location map.
Regional News
6 May 2014 – Negotiations have taken place about the future of Shoreham Airport. The discussions between Shoreham Airport freeholders: Brighton & Hove City Council and Worthing Borough Council; the lessees Albemarle Shoreham Airport Limited and potential lessees Brighton City Airport Limited have been on the future lease and management arrangements. The aim is to ensure the airport becomes a sustainable and profitable operation securing investment in the airports grade II listed terminal building and hangar. The recommendations are to promote the airport site as one of the ‘Greater Brighton City Deal growth hubs’ and through the city deal and other funding sources undertake the flood defence works (Adur Tidal walls) which will protect businesses and enable development of employment land identified in the draft Adur local plan.
6 May 2014 – The Managing Director of Southampton Airport, Mr Dave Lees, has been elected to the board of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Mr Lees was chosen by a vote of the LEP’s business members after responding to a request for Solent business leaders working in aerospace, aviation, high-end manufacturing, logistics, ports and key international gateways.
6 May 2014 – The owners of Manston Airport have announced that they will be closing the airport on 15 May 2014. 7 May 2014 – The Unite union representing staff at Manston Airport has launched a formal grievance over what it calls the ‘complete failure’ to consult on the closure. 10 May 2014 – TG Aviation, a business based on Manston airfield, has expressed fears about its future if the Kent airport closes as planned. 10 May 2014 – Plans to build 1,000 houses on part of Manston Airport have been discussed by Thanet Council officials and airport representatives.
7 May 2014 – Heathrow Airport has published a new online tool providing residents with information about flight paths and flight patterns. The new system is intended to make information about aircraft flight paths to and from the airport more accessible for local residents and those moving into the area. ‘WebTrak My Neighbourhood’ allows users to type in their postcode into the map-based website to understand how aircraft movements change over time and how often particular flight paths are used. The new website is an addition to Heathrow’s current Webtrak system, which allows users to track specific flights, heights and aircraft types. It is intended that the two systems, when used together, will enable people to track trends over time and give people more access to both flight and aircraft routes information. The website is in the early stages of development and further enhancements to the system are planned over the next 18 months to enable residents to access information specific to their location. ‘WebTrak’ and ‘WebTrak My Neighbourhood’ can be accessed from the noise section of the Heathrow Airport website, here.
7 May 2014 – The Chief Executive of NATS Ltd., Mr Richard Deakin, writes about the development of the UK’s Future Airspace Strategy.
8 May 2014 – Campaigners against a third runway at Heathrow Airport have criticised a recent Populus poll of 1,000 people that found 48 per cent were in favour of a third runway, while 34 per cent oppose it. The campaign group HACAN have pointed out that a similar poll carried out in 2007, when the Labour party was in control of the country, found a similar 50 per cent supported a third runway, while 30 per cent were against.
9 May 2014 – Heathrow Airport are considering a congestion charge to reduce traffic congestion levels and improve air quality at the airport. It is anticipated that the scheme would help ensure there are no more airport related vehicles on the road with a third runway than there are today. Heathrow Airport have committed to increase the proportion of passengers who use public transport to access the airport to more than 50 per cent by 2030. It is argued by the airport that a congestion charge would help to discourage drop off and pick up and would apply only for those travelling to the airport – not to surrounding roads like the A30, A4, M4 or M25. Heathrow Airport have said that there could be exemptions in place for low emissions vehicles, taxis and for local residents, although this would be subject to future consultation. Funds could be ring-fenced to contribute towards major rail, London Underground and road improvements, as well as pay for further sustainable travel initiatives, public transport schemes and community transport improvements
10 May 2014 – Eight passengers used Teesside Airport railway station in 12 months to March 2013. The station is the least used in the UK, and figures are down on last year from 12 passengers.
11 May 2014 – Heathrow Airport has set aside £550m to compensate residents who will be affected if a third runway is built. The airport said owners of 750 homes that would need to be demolished would be offered 25 per cent above the market value of their properties. Other residents will be compensated for noise pollution. Heathrow is announcing the creation of a total fund of £550m for noise insulation and residential property compensation if Government supports a third runway. The fund would cover the cost of providing new noise insulation and compensation for residential properties as well as for community buildings such as schools. The airport has previously committed that anyone experiencing a significant increase in noise will be offered free noise insulation. A press release is available on the Heathrow Airport website here.
Industry News
8 May 2014 – Mr John Holland-Kaye, has been named as the new Chief Executive of Heathrow Airport. Mr Holland-Kaye who is currently the airport’s Development Director, will take over from Colin Matthews from 1 July 2014 – he was previously Divisional Chief Executive with Taylor Wimpey PLC, Operations Director at Taylor Woodrow PLC and Divisional Managing Director at Bass Brewers Ltd.
8 May 2014 – Dubai is aiming to become the world’s most visited city. In 2013, the United Arab Emirate attracted 11 million hotel guests, but it said it was looking to attract 20 million annual visitors by 2020. This would overtake the currently most visited city, London, which last year attracted 16 million tourists.
European News
30 Apr 2014 – The new Aviation European Union Emissions Trading System Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The full regulations are available here. The European Commission have also published a list of frequently asked questions on the new Regulation. These can be found here.
Government News
6 May 2014 – General aviation pilots are being alerted to a series of temporary airspace restrictions in place around sporting and commemorative events in the UK, Ireland and France this summer. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that private pilots should pay particularly close attention to relevant NOTAMs as part of their pre flight planning routine. At the request of organisers, temporary airspace restrictions, or RA(T)s, are being put in place to cover the UK and Irish stages of the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia bike races. Additionally, security restrictions will be in place for the entire duration of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The French authorities have also announced airspace closures for D-Day commemorations in June. The CAA urges pilots to allow more time for pre flight planning to ensure their flights do not infringe any of these airspace restrictions.
In February the CAA announced a series of measures to improve the safety of offshore operations. These included the introduction of seating restrictions on offshore flights from 1 June 2014, only allowing passengers to fly if they are seated next to a push-out window exit so they can escape in an emergency. This would be an interim measure until improved emergency breathing equipment is provided.
Since February, the new Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group, set up by the CAA, has been working to develop the recommendations and oversee their implementation. The regulator said that new information had led it to delay the implementation of the seating restrictions until 1 September 2014. Reasons for the change include:
- Evidence provided by the oil and gas industry that reducing helicopter capacity through seating restrictions could have an adverse impact on safety critical maintenance work due to take place at offshore installations over the summer.
- Confirmation that the first improved breathing system units – which would remove the need for seating restrictions – won’t be available before mid-July.
- The recent certification of a redesigned gear shaft for the Airbus Helicopters EC225 – enabling it to be fitted on existing helicopters of this type. The CAA said that this is an important safety modification which should be implemented as quickly as possible, but will also require helicopters being temporarily taken out of service, further reducing capacity at this busy time for offshore safety maintenance.
The second change is to significantly bring forward the date from which the improved Emergency Breathing System (EBS) will be compulsory. This will now be 1 January 2015 rather than 1 April 2016. The new system will deliver a significant improvement in safety for those travelling offshore and is expected to gain safety approval this month.
It is intended that the change, which is not due to take effect until 1 April 2015, is to ensure that everyone onboard can escape in the event of a helicopter capsizing after a ditching or water impact. The Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group has said that the introduction of the requirement will be sensibly managed and the Group’s aim is that no one loses their job as a result of the change. Exit sizes vary from one helicopter type to another – and even from one seat row to the next on some helicopters – and there are many options being explored, especially around seat allocation.
Regular updates will be provided on this work as it develops.
Media News
9 May 2014 – The Standard are reporting that Heathrow Airport has moved the site of its proposed third runway to avoid upparts of the M25 motorway. The paper are reporting that the planned runway would be moved south closer to the A4 to avoid major works on the M25’s junction with the M4. To make way for the new runway to the north west of the site, Heathrow Airport are intending to build a 600-metre tunnel taking traffic under the M25. Under plans developed with the Highways Agency, the tunnel would run alongside the motorway. It would be comprised of four portals separating vehicles heading for the airport or staying on the motorways and be part-funded by Government.
SASIG Regional&IndustryNews Bulletin 6 May – 12 May
SASIG ParliamentaryNews Bulletin 6 May – 12 May
The Parliamentary information in this Bulletin is sourced from De Havilland Information Services plc
The House of Commons will be in Easter recess from Friday 11 April until Monday 28 April 2014 and thereafter from Friday 2 May until Tuesday 6 May 2014.
The House of Lords is in Easter recess from Thursday 10 April until Tuesday 6 May 2014