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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what change has occurred in the last three years in the number of aircraft on flight paths above Walthamstow. [148500] Mr. Robert Ainsworth: The number of aircraft that overfly Walthamstow and adjoining areas depends on the direction of operations at Heathrow which itself is dependent on wind direction and strength and so can vary from day to day. Due to the prevailing westerly winds, on average Heathrow operates in a westerly direction about 77 per cent. of the time, but this can vary considerably from year to year. The proportion of westerly operations at Heathrow in each of the last three years for which data is available was 1997--74 per cent., 1998--89 per cent. and 1999--66 per cent. As during any period of westerly operations approximately 50 per cent. of arriving aircraft approach Heathrow by overflying north London, it is possible (after adjusting for the proportion of westerly operations in each of the last three years) to give a rough estimate of the numbers of aircraft (including traffic using London City airport) that overflew Walthamstow or adjoining areas: the estimates are 1997--89,000, 1999-- 107,000 and 1999--84,000.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

148500; 362 c381W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Air traffic control Aircraft Air routes Heathrow Airport Walthamstow Air traffic

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk