No Mixed Mode For Heathrow airport

8/09/2010

Government Turns Down Mixed Mode Proposal

The Uk government has once again shunned Heathrow airport after it announced it would not approve the idea of a mixed mode runway system at Heathrow. Earlier in the year Heathrow was dealt a massive blow when the new Government scrapped plans for a third runway which had been given the green light by the out-going Labour Government.

At present Heathrow operates with two runways in tandem, one for aircraft landing and the other for aircraft taking off, they swap round at 3pm. The noise created by aircraft taking off is louder but disperses over a large area, whereas landing is quieter but is heard by more people as it is over a smaller area.

The current system gives residents a break from aircraft noise for the most part of the day, but in recent weeks speculation mounted that a mixed mode system would be implemented. This would involve both runways being used for take-off and landing, it would enable Heathrow to handle 1479 aircraft a day instead of 1315 it handles at present.

But Teresa Villiers the Minister of State for Transport stated the Government was committed to retaining the alternate runway system currently in operation. She went on to say that any benefits of a mixed mode system were far outweighed by the negative effect it would have on the surrounding communities.

Local residents feared the Government would bow to pressure from the Aviation Authority and allow mixed mode as compensation for scrapping the third runway.