Glasgow Airport flight paths ‘not fit for purpose’
Glasgow Airport has launched a 13-week public consultation seeking feedback on proposals to modernise its flight paths, which will result in shorter queues and cut emissions.
Plans to change the airspace form part of the UK Future Airspace Strategy (FAS), an industry-wide initiative driven by the Civil Aviation Authority.
A key element of the FAS involves removing ground-based navigation aids across the UK and using state-of-the-art satellite navigation systems. The ground-based navigation aid, which Glasgow Airport currently uses to guide aircraft to and from the airfield, will be decommissioned in 2019.
Operations director Mark Johnston,said: "The flight paths used at Glasgow Airport have not changed in over 50 years and, as is the case with the wider UK airspace infrastructure, they are simply no longer fit for purpose.
"We now need to ensure the way we manage our airspace matches the advancements that have been made in aircraft technology.
"Modern aircraft are now equipped to use satellite navigation meaning they can fly more efficient, reliable and direct routes. In moving to this new system, not only will we be able to improve the punctuality of flights, we will be able to reduce the amount of fuel burn from aircraft at Glasgow by over 4,000 tonnes.
"To put this in perspective, this is the equivalent amount of fuel an A320-200 aircraft would require to operate 1,370 flights between Glasgow and Frankfurt. This in turn will allow us to reduce CO2 emissions by 21%."
The airport will host a number of drop-in sessions over the course of the coming months and all views will then be presented to the CAA before any change.
Johnston added: "We are fully committed to growing the airport responsibly and modernising our airspace will help us achieve that. It is important that our communities and stakeholders are fully involved in this modernisation process and we would encourage people to participate."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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