Freedom Trials begin at Heathrow airport

November 2011 to September 2012

The Heathrow Freedom trails are now roughly half way through, with Phase 1 completed and Phase 2 still to go. Phase 1 was from 1 November 2011 until 29 February 2012 and Phase 2 will be from 1 July 2012 until 30 September 2012. During Phase 1, we were monitoring public reaction to the trail, via an online survey form and via a dedicated phone line. The website survey and phone line are offline now but will be re-instated in time for Phase 2, in order to continue collecting views on the new trial period. The trial will involve periods when both landing paths will be in use at the same time, instead of using the normal alternation pattern, whereby aircraft land on one path for half the day and then switch and land on the other path for the rest of the day. The switch over happens at 3pm.

The twin landing proposal was a recommendation of the Government’s South East Airports Taskforce, which was set up in 2010 to look at making more efficient and flexible use of the two existing runways. The Task Force felt that the airport needed more resilience, to help it recover from delays. One way to do this is to land aircraft out of the normal alternation pattern. In other words, aircraft would be allowed to land on the runway which would otherwise be used for takeoffs.

The 3pm switch of runways enables residents under the flight paths to have a regular and predictable half day respite from aircraft noise. We know that this respite is valued by the communities for the benefit of health and wellbeing. The Minister has committed to retaining it, although she has also approved that the ‘freedom trial’ should go ahead.

The freedom trial will permit Heathrow to operate not only dual arrivals but also dual departures (but not at the same time). The aim of the dual arrivals is to reduce the time that aircraft spend in the holding stacks. The benefit of this includes reduced delays for passengers; reduced wasting of fuel; it may reduce emissions and may also reduce the number of late-running flights after 22:30.

Although the benefits are appreciated, probably the main concern for residents will be that aircraft landing to the wrong runway will result in a loss of respite, with a consequent increase in noise when there should be relative peace. This peaceful respite is something that residents prize highly. It is not something they will wish to lose, whatever the benefits to airlines or their passengers. There are also some businesses and residents in the Borough who specifically rely on the certainty of the respite, and plan their weekly activities around it.

Find more details on the trial here.