How to make a complaint to Farnborough Airport
The first Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) instigated by Farnborough Airport (FAL) has been implemented for a few years now and the Post Implementation Review period is complete and the reports from FAL are currently being scrutinised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Since the implementation we are all in a better position to judge the effects of the airspace change on the residents of Seale & Sands. Our perception of how it affects us will differ according to the wind direction since FAL use their runway differently depending on the prevailing wind.
For easterly wind they use runway 06 and aircraft depart to the East then turn and cross the Hogs back near Seale. Aircraft arriving will generally not overfly us as their approach is over the Church Crookham area.
For westerly wind they use runway 24 (it’s the same physical runway, just named differently). Here, the departing aircraft will overfly the Church Crookham area so will generally not bother us, however, arriving aircraft will as they use a similar corridor to those departing when using runway 06.
It is more likely departing aircraft will be more of a concern for us when the wind is easterly and using runway 06 and especially due to Performance Based Navigation flights (PBN). Part of government’s strategy was for fewer people to be overflown when adjusting airspace however we feel this is at the expense of the few — thankfully this strategy is changing. PBN flights means the aircraft will follow the exact same set of route co-ordinates when departing the airport and travelling through the airspace which results in every aircraft overflying the exact same location en route.
Aircraft arriving, when using runway 24, tend to use the whole width of the corridor which helps to disperse them away from the exact same flight path. More residents will be affected by arriving aircraft but less often due to the distribution across the corridor.
FAL have started a new ACP and have teamed up with Heathrow and Gatwick airport’s who are doing the same, all as part of government’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy. We see this as an opportunity to have our say; we are better informed now as we learned a lot through the previous process and having seen the effects after the implementation of the first ACP. To enable us to have a louder voice during the new ACP we are asking residents who are affected to make a complaint to FAL. These complaints are recorded and form part of an ongoing agreement (part of their planning approval) to report all complaints by area, which are scrutinised by FAL, Farnborough Airport Consultative Committee and Rushmoor Borough Council. Complaints will also face scrutiny by the CAA as FAL’s new ACP progresses, therefore it is important to complain if you feel it justified.
FAL have received thousands of complaints so don’t think you’ll be in the minority, mostly relating to noise, but you can complain about whatever you like regarding an aircraft using FAL, such as noise, flying to low, not within flight corridors, flying out of permitted hours etc.. Other issues you may wish to complain about are regularity of overflying the exact same location or the height at which they fly over an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which by FAL’s own admission should be around 5000ft yet they barely make 3000ft when departing runway 06.
You can find out details about any aircraft using FAL by going online to WebTrak Farnborough Airport. Here, you can follow flights, albeit with a 30min delay and look at historical data. It shows the type of aircraft, number, altitude etc. and if you plot your property on their map it will tell you how far the aircraft is away from you. You can use this info to better inform yourself and FAL when you complain.
Much more info about FAL’s operations can be gained from the FACC website including all previous meetings, complaint reports, documents and more.
Complaints relating to Airport operations should be submitted:
By telephone: 01252 526001
By email: complaints@farnboroughairport.com
Online: WebTrak Farnborough Airport (emsbk.com)
By post: The Sustainability Manager, Farnborough Airport Ltd, Farnborough Airport, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6XA