Airport wants to expand air traffic control
13.10.06
Bosses at Norwich Airport want to expand their air traffic control area to cope with rising passenger levels. They also want to safeguard against the increased risk of collisions with military aircraft following the closure of RAF Coltishall.
Omniport, the airport's owner, is considering applying to increase the amount of airspace under the airport's control following the closure of RAF Coltishall. Since the closure of the RAF base, the number of military planes exercising in the sky above Norfolk Airport air space has increased.
Norwich Airport airspace controls a 2½ mile radius and an altitude of 2,000ft, but the airport has no control of any aircraft flying beyond those boundaries. Luton, Cardiff, Bristol and Newcastle Airports have successfully secured similar changes to the air space they control recently because of rising passenger numbers.
Passengers at Norwich Airport are expected to rise by 100% over the next 2 years and predictions to reach the 3m mark by 2030. Hence, there is a growing need to extend the area available for directing the flow of air traffic.
Environmental benifits of the move also include planes using less fuel and reducing noise by introducing more direct flight paths and enabling air traffic controllers to divert flights waiting to land into holding sites away from builtup areas. Bosses also claim the creation of an enlarged controlled airspace would enhance the chances of wind farm developments as the airspace would be a known environment to locate them safely.
Airport Managing Director, Richard Jenner said the proposals were at the early stages but the changes would bring a range of benefits to passengers, residents and the environment.
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