For six weeks from 13 September 2010 essential maintenance work will be taking place on taxiways connecting Heathrow's northern runway with the rest of the airfield. This means that Heathrow will not be able to alternate daytime use of the runways as published during this period, although night time alternation will be unaffected.
Some of the asphalt taxiways next to Heathrow's northern runway are laid on top of concrete blocks. Regular maintenance checks have shown that some of these blocks could become unstable, which can cause the asphalt to break up. For important safety reasons, we now need to replace these blocks to avoid debris getting into aircraft engines.
The major part of the work will take six weeks, and this means that when the airport is on westerly operations during this time (when the wind is coming from the west, with aircraft coming in to land over London and take-off towards Windsor), we will use the southern runway for the majority of arrivals and the northern runway for departures. As a result, people living under the arrivals flight path for the southern runway will not have the usual half-day respite from aircraft noise. This includes north Feltham, south Hounslow, Isleworth and Richmond.
People living under the departures flight path for the northern runway will also not have the usual half-day respite from aircraft noise. This includes Colnbrook, south Slough, Windsor, Datchet and also Staines and Egham when certain departure routes are used.
"I know this news will not be welcomed and we want to convey our apologies to all affected. We would not suspend alternation if there was any other alternative. This work is critical to the future safe operation of Heathrow," said Colin Wood, Heathrow's Director of Airside Operations.
When the airport is on easterly operations (when the wind is coming from the east, with aircraft coming in to land over Windsor and take-off towards London), the usual practice will not change. This will mean that we continue to use the southern runway for the majority of departures and the northern runway for arrivals. Throughout the period, night time alternation will also be unaffected.
If residents would like to speak to somebody about the noise impact of these works or have an enquiry regarding aircraft noise please call the flight evaluation unit on 0800 344 844 or email noise_complaints@baa.com.
Eaterlies
Westerlies
