Flight paths vision earns mixed views

North Queensferry could take brunt of changes

Edinburgh Airport’s flight path proposals met with mixed reactions as they were handed to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The CAA will now consider the new routes, which it is feared could result in more aircraft noise for residents in west Fife.

Local councillor Dave Dempsey, who sits on the Edinburgh Airport Consultative Committee, said North Queensferry would be hardest hit by the changes which, if approved, would be phased in from spring next year.

The plans were cautiously welcomed by Kinghorn Community Council which said the airport had listened to a hard-fought campaign in selecting routes that avoided the town.

Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said there would be further dialogue with communities before a final decision is reached. He said: “As part of our ongoing engagement with communities and people who took the time to respond to our consultation, we have contacted those who wished to be kept informed of developments to inform them that our Airspace Change proposal will be submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority.”

North Queensferry residents face being awoken at 6am by jets under Edinburgh Airport’s flight path proposals.

The airport has selected new routes which will use modern navigation technology and these are now in the hands of the Civil Aviation Authority for consideration.

While the towns of Burntisland and Kinghorn look likely to experience reduced aircraft noise, North Queensferry and west Fife villages could be adversely affected by two of the proposed routes.

There was also concern the flight paths could have a negative impact on Dunfermline.

Local councillor Dave Dempsey, who sits on the Edinburgh Airport Consultative Committee, revealed North Queensferry would be hardest hit by the changes which, if approved, would be phased in from spring next year.

He said: “North Queensferry is the only place which can expect departing aircraft going over it in both directions.”

Under Edinburgh Airport’s proposals, some planes taking off into an easterly wind, which happens around 30% of the time, would take a tight turn and fly over North Queensferry between the hours of 6am and 11pm.

During prevailing south-westerly winds, some would take off towards the west and take a tight turn near North Queensferry before heading down the Forth, at the peak time of 6am to 10am.

Mr Dempsey said he would be asking questions when the group meets in the capital on Monday.

“There are so many ifs, buts and maybes,” he said. “Such as just how widely spread these routes will be. There is a single line on the diagram, but does this represent a wider corridor?

“And there should be some way of reviewing this as it is phased in.”

Councillor Alice McGarry said the new flight paths should be trialled before being implemented.

Jim Stewart, who chairs Central Dunfermline Community Council, said more detail needed to be known.

“While we welcome some adjustments based on the significant number of objections, we would still have some concerns,” he said.

“There are references to three different periods – peak, day and night – but nothing on flight volumes or frequency.

“One of the flight paths to the west of Dunfermline passes over many west Fife villages, while most concerning to us would be the F-Florida H24 flight path that runs across the north of Dunfermline.

“This area is the most polluted traffic area in Fife, and surely additional pollutants from overflying aircraft wouldn’t be a good nor acceptable thing.”

Along the coast at Kinghorn, the proposals were cautiously welcomed.

Roy Mackie from Kinghorn Community Council said: “It looks promising.

“We worked really hard during the consultation process. As always in these processes, you are always a bit sceptical.

“A lot of people at the meetings said they had already made their minds up, but I can say now that’s not the case.”

The airport said it had balanced concerns raised by residents during the public consultation with operational requirements in selecting up-to-date RNAV routes to replace the old radio beacon system dating back to the 1950s.

Proposed flight paths Proposed flight paths could potentially affect areas from 6am to 11pm, dependent on weather conditions and wind direction. These flight paths would probably be in operation around 30% of the time.

People in North Queensferry, top, could suffer as a result of the flight path changes proposed at Edinburgh Airport, above.

Councillor Dave Dempsey says he will be asking questions.