✈️ Gatwick Airspace Modernisation Review

• John Milne, MP for Horsham, initiated a debate on the impact of Gatwick Airport’s airspace modernisation review on local communities, focusing on the Future Airspace Strategy Implementation South (FASI-S).
• Milne supports modernisation in principle for improving aviation efficiency and reducing carbon emissions but questions the process due to potential conflicts of interest.
• The review proposes a new flight path that would see planes making an earlier turn south, leading to increased noise over villages like Rusper, Warnham, and Slinfold.
• Concerns were raised about the consultation process’s lack of transparency and genuine choice, with three proposed options appearing very similar and favoring Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL).
• Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, highlighted the importance of managing noise pollution in airport airspace changes, emphasizing it as a priority for local communities.
• Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, expressed concerns about the potential exacerbation of issues if Gatwick’s emergency runway is approved for commercial use.
• Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, criticized the lack of progress and protections for communities affected by increased flight traffic, comparing aerial routes to motorways built without similar considerations.
• Peter Lamb, MP for Crawley, noted the difficulties in rationalizing airspace and the strain on local infrastructure, suggesting a need for investment if capacity increases.
• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is involved and proposes a new UK-wide airspace change service to address industry expertise shortages and improve the quality of airspace change processes.
• Minister Mike Kane responded, emphasizing the necessity of modernizing UK airspace for quicker, quieter, and cleaner journeys, and highlighted government steps towards enhancing sustainability and noise management.
• The government’s commitment to maintaining current night operation restrictions at major airports until 2028 was announced, aiming to balance economic benefits with community impacts.
• Kane encouraged public participation in the stage 3 consultation of the CAP 1616 process and supported the establishment of a national airspace design service to holistically manage changes.

The session shows a moderate level of disagreement, primarily centered around the concerns and criticisms raised by John Milne and other MPs regarding the Gatwick Airspace Modernisation Review. The debate is characterized by interventions that question the process and its impact on local communities, particularly in terms of noise pollution and lack of genuine choice in the consultation process. However, the disagreement is balanced by a shared recognition of the need for airspace modernization and its benefits in terms of efficiency and environmental impact. MPs like John Milne and Tom Tugendhat express strong concerns about the current proposals and their effects on constituents, yet they acknowledge the overall goal of modernization. The Minister, Mike Kane, responds by emphasizing the broader benefits and ongoing processes to address community concerns, such as noise action plans and the establishment of a new UK airspace design service. While there is clear disagreement on the execution and fairness of the Gatwick review, there is also a consensus on the necessity of the modernization project itself, leading to a rating of 2 for disagreement.