Not just noise concerns about low-flying and off-track planes

Andrew Hall writes from time to time about aircraft flying off-track and low over Windsor, Maidenhead and our surrounding area.

In the past there have been major crashes at Heathrow (which the Airports Commission called ‘ground incidents’) in 1968, in 1972 and in 2008, also with other more minor incidents at other times, including a Boeing 787 suffering a nose-wheel collapse on the ground whilst being loaded, just seven months ago in June 2021.

Schiphol in Amsterdam – an airport with which

Heathrow frequently likes to compare itself – saw crashes in 1992, when a Boeing 747 crashed on take-off into an apartment block, in 1994 when a Boeing 737 crashed short of landing, plus other smaller incidents.

These examples illustrate the kind of risks to which populations around major international airports are exposed.

Andrew Hall is right to express concerns about aircraft low and off-track over Windsor, Maidenhead and our surroundings, together with aircraft activity outside an eight-hour night time curfew as recommended by the

World Health Organisation.

Unlike most other major international airports, Heathrow’s operations take place over millions of people across the Thames Valley and London.

Other airports have mostly been better positioned but Heathrow has been allowed to grow in the wrong location.

For many of us within the Royal Borough, the prospect of Heathrow having further expansion and nightflights doesn't bear thinking about. The size of their operations is already far beyond what they should be. The thought of an additional 700 flights per day over our heads, increasing pre-pandemic numbers by 50 per cent, with increased risk including at night fills me with dread.

As we start 2022, Heathrow's operations need to be better controlled. The Government must impose an 8 hour curfew from 22.00 to 6.00 or from 23.00 to 7.00 as well as end the threat of further expansion at the earliest opportunity. Our area puts up with enough already.

PAUL GROVES Tithe Barn Drive Between Windsor and Maidenhead