Plan to reduce delays at Glasgow Airport
GLASGOW Airport is planning to change flight paths which would reduce delays for planes in and out of the airport.
The airport is consulting on the changes which will see 50-year-old technology replaced with satellite navigation for aircraft approaching the runway.
It is envisaged that the changes will reduce planes queueing up in the air waiting to land and also when they are on the ground.
The move is part of a UK-wide plan to improve the airspace around airports, cut noise and reduce fuel consumption.
The new satellite technology will allow airports to predict more accurately when aircraft will reach their destination airport and fewer planes will be held in the air waiting for a landing slot.
It also provides more flexibility for the departure route planes take when leaving the airport, allowing paths to be moved, giving respite to people living in homes in the flight path.
Glasgow Airport is beginning a 13-week consultation looking for people’s views before it decides on any changes.
Mark Johnston, Glasgow Airport operations director, 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 4000 tonnes.”
The proposals are part of a UK-wide Civil Aviation Authority future airspace strategy.
It involved removing groundbased navigation systems and a move to satellite navigation technology.
The ground-based navigation aid which Glasgow Airport currently uses to guide aircraft to and from the airfield will be decommissioned in 2019.
Mr 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 i nvolved i n this modernisation process and we would encourage people to participate.”