SASIG April 2016 Bulletin

April has been a quiet month for major aviation announcements, starting as it did with Easter, followed by the purdah period for local and devolved elections; and there is now considerable news media speculation that the EU Referendum will delay major policy decisions being taken across Whitehall, such is the sensitivity of the issue for internal Government (i.e. Conservative Party) politics. Since a decision on a new runway in the South East has alluded Government’s of all colours for 40 years, and is also known to be divisive issue for the Cabinet, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that this is one of the issues that will not be a high priority in the wake of the Referendum result, despite the urging of the Transport Select Committee that the Government should make a decision on the location of new runway capacity in the South East as soon as possible.
The best expectation, therefore, must be that any announcement will be delayed until after the summer recess and potentially until the end of the year. Recent Parliamentary Statements and the answers to PQs, which frequently offer helpful insights into the latest Government thinking, support this. Two PQ answers from Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill are particularly revealing when first he indicated that:
“… the Department for Transport would undertake a package of further work [on South East runway mitigation] which it anticipates will conclude over the summer.”
And then that:
“The Government is planning to review the existing Aviation Policy Framework over the remainder of this year with a view to publishing a revised framework thereafter, having sought stakeholder views of what work is required and what a strategy should cover … ”.
Neither of these statements suggest a significant announcement is imminent, indeed quite the contrary, which is why CAG believes there is an important window of opportunity for SASIG to influence Government thinking on aviation policy, making the commencement of a programme of Technical Working Groups (as approved at the full membership meeting at the beginning of March) timely. The initial meetings on Surface Access and Airspace, Planning and the Environment were well attended and draft policy statements based on these will be brought forward to the full member meeting on 8 July. The third TWG, on the relationship between airports, cities and their economies is timetabled for 10^th May.
The above not withstanding, their have been interesting media reports during April that:

• Heathrow Airport (in the form of John Holland-Kaye, the airport’s chief executive) has indicated it could soften its position on night time flights in a bid to convince the Government to back a third runway,.
• A £200m light rail link is being planned linking Luton Airport to Luton Parkway Station and that MAG are planning £600m of investment in Stansted; both airports are reported to be growing much faster than their owners expected.

Finally, the British-Irish Airports Expo, is being held at the NEC Birmingham from 8-9 June. It will be the largest ever airport industry exhibition staged in Britain or Ireland, and attendance is free.

Chris Cain,
Head of Secretariat

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MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS

• The EU is consulting on a General Block Exemption state aid package for airports; this is a very important development for airports with a throughput of less than 3mppa.
• Flybe has entered formal code-share arrangements with Virgin Atlantic and Delta at MAN, LGW and GLA.
• SASIG bank account transferred to new Treasurer Dudley BC.
• Contract for the Secretariat now in place using the SCAPE Framework.
• SASIG web site has been successfully been migrated to a new host.
• Two TWG meetings held – minutes to be posted on the SASIG web site when finalised.
• Transport Select Committee Report on SE Airport Capacity published on 22 April

1.  Q.  Question (HL7317) asked by Baroness Tonge on 22 March 2016:  “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of how to achieve legally binding targets for air pollution should the third runway at Heathrow proceed”.
A. Lord Ahmad on 4th April 2016:  “The Airports Commission published a large amount of analysis on air quality, which included an assessment of potential impacts on limit values, in its Final Report, which is available in the libraries of the House.  In addition, as announced in December, we are testing the Airports Commission’s work on air quality against the Government’s new air quality plan, as recommended by the Environmental Audit Committee”.2.  Q.  Question (HL7316) asked by Baroness Tonge on 22 March 2016:  “To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisation is responsible for collecting air pollution data generated by monitoring in and around Heathrow airport”.
A. Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 5th April 2016:  “Air quality monitoring data collected in and around Heathrow Airport is presented on the Heathrow AirWatch website which is funded via a joint working partnership consisting of Heathrow Airport Ltd, London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Hounslow, Slough and Spelthorne Borough Councils and British Airways. It is managed by the consultant Ricardo Energy and Environment. Two local monitoring sites are included in the Government’s national monitoring network (the Automatic Urban and Rural Network). All national air quality monitoring data is available on the Government’s UK-Air website. The two monitoring sites are London Hillingdon which is located in a suburban residential area approximately 30 metres from the M4 motorway and London Harlington which is located close to a minor road to the east of Harlington village”.3.  Q.  Question (32725) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) on 8th April 2016:  “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the proposed new flightpaths before a decision is taken on a third runway at Heathrow Airport”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport), on 13th April 2016:  “On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the Airports Commission’s case for new runway capacity in the South East, as well as the Commission’s three shortlisted schemes. We continue to consider all three schemes, including a third runway at Heathrow.  The Government continues to consider the large amount of very detailed analysis contained decisions on next steps. Ultimately, any proposals to alter the airport’s flight paths, including those in the Airports Commission’s final report, would be subject to the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Change Process”.

4.  Q.  Question (32726) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) on 8th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, at what stage in the decision making process regarding a third runway at Heathrow Airport he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on that matter”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport), on 13th April, 2016:  “On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the Airports Commission’s case for new runway capacity in the South East, as well as the Commission’s three shortlisted schemes. At the same time, it was also announced that the Department for Transport would undertake a package of further work which it anticipates will conclude over the summer. Alongside this, they would prepare an airports national policy statement as the framework for implementing decisions on airport capacity in line with the Planning Act 2008”.

5.  Q.  Question (32727) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) on 8th April 2016:  “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport on compliance with EU Air Quality limits”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport), on 13th April, 2016:  “On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the Airports Commission’s case for new runway capacity in the South East, as well as the Commission’s three shortlisted schemes. We continue to consider all three schemes, including a third runway at Heathrow.  The Airports Commission published a large amount of analysis on air quality, which included an assessment of potential impacts on limit values, in its Final Report, which is available in the libraries of the House.
In addition, as announced in December, we are testing the Airports Commission’s work on air quality against the Government’s new air quality plan, as recommended by the Environmental Audit Committee”.

6.  Q. Question (33322) asked by Nusrat Ghani (Wealdon) on 11th April 2016: “To ask   the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of households eligible for the property compensation scheme proposed by Gatwick Airport Ltd under the current proposal for the expansion of Gatwick Airport”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport) on 19th April, 2016:  “The property compensation scheme proposed by Gatwick Airport Limited consists of two elements, compulsory purchase and a voluntary purchase scheme (‘Home Owner Support Scheme’). Approximately 168 properties will be eligible for compulsory purchase compensation. The number of properties eligible for voluntary purchase will be determined by the promoters published eligibility criteria in due course”.

7.  Q.  Question (33323) asked by Nusrat Ghani (Wealden) on 11th April 2016:  “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what operational mitigation measures have been proposed by (a) Heathrow Airport Limited and (b) Gatwick Airport Limited to reduce the effect of aviation noise in the event of expansion of those airports”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport), on 19th April, 2016:  “Heathrow Airport Ltd and Gatwick Airport Ltd. have published proposals on their respective websites to mitigate the impacts of aviation noise.  The Government is continuing to engage with promoters for all three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission to develop the best possible packages of mitigation measures, including on noise”.

8.  Q.  Question (HL7398) asked by Lord Birt on 11th April, 2016:  “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to grow national road, rail and air infrastructure, and to invest in public sector capacity, to match the forecast growth in population to 73 million b 2035”.
A. Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon on 18th April 2016:  “The Government’s transport investment strategy is summarised in the Department for Transport’s Single Departmental Plan, which aligns major upcoming infrastructure projects and policy decisions with the four key strategic objectives of economic growth; building a One Nation Britain; improving journeys; and creating a safe, secure, and sustainable transport network.
The current Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) provides details of the Strategic Road schemes in which the Government will be investing a total of £15.2 billion over the Parliament. It also outlines long-term aspirations for a smoother, smarter, and more sustainable road network by 2040. A number of strategic studies are currently underway to inform the second Roads Investment Strategy, which will cover the period 2020-2025.
The Government invests in the rail network as a means of meeting forecast demand, reducing operational costs, and stimulating wider economic growth. It does this by targeting the four key investment areas of electrification, port-to-city freight connections, intercity connectivity, and commuter travel. High Speed Two overlays this programme of investment and targets many of the same objectives. Details of specific projects can be found in the High Level Output Specification (HLOS), published in July 2012 and in Sir Peter Hendy’s report on the replanning of Network Rail’s Investment Programme.  Alongside a decision on additional runway capacity, the Government is also revising its Aviation Policy Framework, which will include work to consider infrastructure”.

9.  Q.  Question (HL7467) asked by Lord Sharkey on 11th April, 2016: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will establish a compulsory register for drone ownership following similar action by the Federal Aviation Administration in the US, and if not, why not”.
A. Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon on 18th April, 2016:  “We are exploring a range of options for monitoring and enforcing regulations on drone use in the UK.  This includes the potential for types of registration schemes, such as are implemented in the US and Ireland.  The Department for Transport is in contact with both these authorities, as part of our work into understanding the benefits of such schemes, in terms of transparency of ownership and enforcement, as against their costs to business and other users.  HM Government intends to consult on options this year”.

10.  Q. Question (33698) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) on 12th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role the Environment Agency has in the Government’s assessment of whether expansion of Heathrow Airport would be compatible with air quality legislation”.  
A. Rory Stewart on 18th April 2016: “Along with other Statutory Environmental Bodies, the Environment Agency is a member of the Department for Transport’s Appraisal of Sustainability Steering Group which is considering the range of environmental, social and economic impacts associated with the short-listed options for airport capacity in the south east. This is part of the work that the Secretary of State for Transport outlined in his oral statement in December last year, which confirmed that the Government would be starting work on preparing the building blocks for an Airports National Policy Statement”.

11.  Q. Question (33638) asked by Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) on 12th April 2016:  “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent advice have Ministers and officials in his Department received from the European Commission on the compliance with state aid rules of awarding Public Service Obligation subsidies that specify airports both origin and destination”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport) on 18th April: “We have not received any recent advice from the European Commission on the compliance with state aid rules of awarding Public Service Obligation subsidies that specify airports both origin and destination”.

12.  Q. Question (33752) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) on 13th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will make it its policy not to permit any airport expansion that would worsen air quality in an area where breaches to current or likely future air quality limits are already anticipated or where there is a significant risk of such expansion causing breaches to current or likely future limits”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport) on 18th April:  “The Government is determined to meet the requirements set out in the Ambient Air Quality Directive and to do so in the shortest time possible. As set out in the recent National Air Quality Plan, the Government intends and expects that the UK will be fully compliant by 2025.  Any decision regarding future airport capacity will take into account the Government’s Air Quality Plan and its commitment to comply with EU air quality limit values”.

13.  Q. Question (33981) asked by Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) on 14th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking in preparation for the International Civil Aviation Organisation meeting in autumn 2016 to ensure an agreement for controlling international aviation emissions; and who he plans will represent the UK at that conference”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport) on 19th April: “The Government is working hard to reach agreement in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on a global market-based measure to tackle aviation emissions. The UK has a seat on the ICAO High-Level Group responsible for developing a proposal on the design of the global market-based measure. We also contribute to the working groups undertaking the technical and analytical work to support the future implementation of the measure.  We want this year’s 39th ICAO Assembly to take a positive decision towards the implementation of a global market-based measure from 2020 that is environmentally effective, minimises competitive distortions and is as administratively simple as possible”.

14.   Q. Question (34270) asked by Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) on 18th April, 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to update its 2013 aviation demand forecasts before publishing an updated version of the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State (Department for Transport) on 26th April: “The Government is planning to review the existing Aviation Policy Framework over the remainder of this year with a view to publishing a revised framework thereafter, having sought stakeholder views of what work is required and what a strategy should cover. This work is at an early stage, and no decisions have yet been taken on what additional analysis may be required to support that work or when a strategy will be published, though clearly updated forecasts are within the potential scope of this work”.

15.  Q. Question (34373) asked by Crispin Blunt (Reigate) on 18th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of expansion of Gatwick Airport on seat capacity on northbound trains into London terminals in (a) 2030 and (b) 2040 during weekday morning peak periods.
A. Robert Goodwill, Secretary of State (Department for Transport) on 26th April: “The Airports Commission analysed the likely surface access impacts of a second runway at Gatwick Airport in 2030. Its analysis concluded that the second runway does increase forecast crowding on the Brighton Main Line but not to significant levels.  At the time its work was carried out, the Airports Commission felt it was not plausible to carry out detailed surface access analysis for 2040 and beyond because of the difficulty in making assumptions about the likely state of the transport network and background growth at that time”.

16.  Q. Question (34405) asked by Crispin Blunt (Reigate) on 18th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what forecast he has made of the number of households within the 55 day-evening-night equivalent level noise contour of aircraft arriving and taking off at Gatwick Airport in the event that a second runway at that airport was to become operational.
A. Robert Goodwill, Secretary of State (Department for Transport) on 26th April: “On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the Airports Commission’s case for new runway capacity in the South East, as well as the Commission’s three shortlisted schemes.  The Airports Commission undertook a thorough assessment of the noise impacts of each of the three shortlisted schemes, across a wide range of metrics including the 55 day-evening-night sound level. The Government continues to consider the comprehensive evidence published by the Airports Commission, including on the noise impacts of the three schemes”.

17.  Q. Question (34404) asked by Crispin Blunt (Reigate) on 18th April 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) night period and (b) night quota period aircraft movements there were at Gatwick Airport for each International Air Transport Association season between winter (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2015-16”.
A. Robert Goodwill, Secretary of State (Department for Transport) on 26th April: “The Government only sets restrictions on the number of flights between the hours of 2330 – 0600 – in the period known as night quota period and therefore we only have movement figures for this and not the wider night period hours of 2300 – 0700.
It should be noted that some flights take place during the night quota period but do not count towards the movement limits under the night flight restrictions. These include movements due to certain types of delays, to those issued dispensations by the Government, or to those by aircraft below a certain noise volume.
Two figures are given below for each aircraft season. The first refers to those that count towards the night movement limits at Gatwick Airport, and the second is the total number of movements that did not count towards these limits. This information is also available on the Gatwick Airport website: http://www.gatwickairport.com/

Period	Number of movements	Total number
Winter 2007/08	2929	62
Summer 2008	10618	90
Winter 2008/09	2145	62
Summer 2009	9099	76
Winter 2009/10	2199	103
Summer 2010	9875	120
Winter 2010/11	2160	91
Summer 2011	9859	85
Winter 2011/12	1411	62
Summer 2012	9837	92
Winter 2012/13	1603	53
Summer 2013	9998	96
Winter 2013/14	1510	83
Summer 2014	11147	138
Winter 2014/15	1756	135
Summer 2015	11149	401
Winter 2015/16	1872	169

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