PRESS RELEASE regarding Glasgow Airport Consultation ‘Modernising Our Flightpaths’ 2018
LOCAL resident group, Mains Estate Residents Association (MERA) from Milngavie has objected to a proposed new departure route from Glasgow Airport.
The route named ‘ROWLY’, would be routed directly over North Baljaffray and the Mains Estate, including the Douglas Academy Music School. The Music School run by East Dunbartoshire Council is a national Centre of Excellence for gifted young musicians from across Scotland. ‘ROWLY’ would also be routed closer to four primary schools (Castlehill, St. Andrew’s, Baljaffray and Clober) as well as Bearsden Academy.
Key safety margins would be reduced because aircraft would fly 280 feet closer to the ground than hitherto. According to MERA’s understanding, this appears contrary to the requirements of the Transport Act 2000 and the most recent Department of Transport, Air Navigation Guidance (2017).
Glasgow Airport proposes that ‘ROWLY’ would predominately be used between the hours of 06:00 and 10:00 for north-east departures. This would result in a +16dB (forty-fold) increase in time-averaged aircraft noise, during this time period over the Mains Estate. The impact of individual flights would be significantly greater than this. Due to the reduction in aircraft height this would cause a 43% to 36% greater adverse environmental impact on the ground in North Baljaffray and the Mains Estate, when compared to existing departure routes.
As a practical alternative solution, MERA proposes continued use of the current NORBO 05/ TURNBERRY 05 departure route for the 06:00 to 10:00 time window. According to Glasgow Airport’s own data this would also have positive environmental benefit, preventing an increase in fuel burn and CO2 emission by 14% by 2029.
Public Consultation on Glasgow Airspace ends - Friday 13th April 2018
Implications for the Mains Estate?
Glasgow Airport is currently consulting on proposed changes to its’ airspace.
Please have your say.
Key briefing points:
• Nine departure routes in use from the 1960s will be rationalized to five new routes.
• Aircraft will turn closer to Glasgow Airport. One route will be routed over the top of
the Mains Estate and Douglas Academy. The route is called ‘ROWLY’.
• ‘ROWLY’ will be used from 06:00 to 10:00 for takeoffs to the north-east.
• The north-east departure route is used on 22% of days.
• In total 26% of departures to the north-east will be routed over the Mains Estate.
• Glasgow Airport estimates up to +2dB increase in aircraft noise at the Mains Estate averaged over the day. That is about +16dB (forty-fold) increase in noise between 06:00 and 10:00, on days when departures are to the north-east.
• Aircraft will be flying 280 feet (14 %) closer to the ground over the Mains Estate, than the existing flight path over Main Street – reducing safety margins.
• Aircraft noise is estimated to be +36% louder than the existing flight path, over Main Street, due to the reduced aircraft height from the ground.
• +14% increase in fuel burn and CO2 emissions (‘ROWLY’ versus ‘TURNBERRY’ (TRN)).
• Arrival routes over Milngavie will not be affected.
• Glasgow Airport is seeking consultation responses by Friday 13th April 2018.
Nine existing departure routes ….. ….. to be replaced by five new routes.
‘ROWLY’ is routed over Mains Estate.
Full details from Glasgow Airport are available:
Please have your say by 13th April 2018. You should email your response to airspace@glasgowairport.com
making it clear that it is your response to the consultation. Every adult in each household is encouraged to respond. Glasgow Airport ask you to format the email subject header as follows:
• RESPONSE: SUPPORT – i.e. In favour; OR
• RESPONSE: NO COMMENT; OR
• RESPONSE: NO OBJECTION; OR
• RESPONSE: OBJECT – i.e. Not in favour. In the body of the email you are asked to give your reasons
e.g. about ‘ROWLY’.
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