Flight path plans over Armagh skies
Thursday, 4 September 2008
by RICHARD BURDEN.
AIRCRAFT could be redirected over Armagh City and District as part of changes proposed by National Air Traffic Control, it has been revealed.
The aviation body has compiled a consultation document which puts forward two possible options for the airspace overlying the eastern coast of Northern Ireland and an area stretching from Belfast to Newry.
The hope is to improve the 'route structure' for airways operating between Belfast, Dublin and Scotland.
The consultation document said that, if accepted, "the airspace change proposed would enhance safety, reduce delay and provide an environmental benefit from reduced emissions per aircraft flying through the region".
The new route would redirect air traffic through the airspace over Armagh City and District, which does not happen at present.
The first option put forward was for "the widening of the existing airspace, which introduces a larger area of controlled airspace over the Mournes area and at sea".
The second also involves the same widening - as per option one - but includes a new corridor, roughly between Dublin and Belfast.
This would result in new controlled airspace over a larger section of Newry and Mourne, but also over the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council areas.
The main environmental health impacts from the proposed changes would be noise and air quality. But it has been pointed out that powers currently available to district councils do not allow them to address noise from civil aircraft.
Under the Airports (NI) Order 1994, the Department for Regional Development (DRD) has the power to instruct an airport "to take such measures as it considers necessary for limiting noise and vibration". But, in practice, this would only cover noise from aircraft in the process of landing or taking off.
The DRD has told the Southern Group Environmental Health Committee - of which Armagh Council is a member - that it has no responsibility for aircraft fly-overs. This was a matter which was ultimately the responsibility of the Department of Transport in London.
DRD has said that it is not in a position to make technical comment on the potential noise impacts from the proposed changes.
In a modelled worst-case scenario - with the noisiest aircraft at the lowest altitude - noise levels in the Poyntzpass and Scarva areas would be predicted to increase, but remain at a level below the World Health Organisation's standard for 'sleep disturbance events'.
Armagh Council chief executive John Briggs described the consultation document as "fairly technical" and officers had assessed the potential impact on the local authority areas within the Southern Group's jurisdiction.
The council said it did not have any objections with either of the options being considered and has asked to be kept informed of developments.
In a letter to National Air Traffic Control - which is based in Hampshire - it adds: "The council asks that aviation authorities take appropriate measures to ensure that noise levels are kept to a minimum whilst aircraft are flying over the area".
