Airspace change to go live (UK)

[Balance]

Just an FYI as it will probably have repercussions.

NATS has today (3 February) announced that its Airspace Change Proposal for the first phase of the London Airspace Management Programme (LAMP) will be implemented tomorrow (4 February), following approval by the CAA in November 2015.

The changes pave the way for wider modernisation of airspace to deliver more efficient flights, saving fuel and reducing CO2emissions, and reducing noise, keeping aircraft higher for longer and minimising areas regularly overflown.

The changes include:

• A Point Merge arrival system for London City Airport. This is over the sea and will replace conventional routes which are over land
• New alignments for London City departure routes that pass over Essex and Kent. Other existing routes at the airport are being replicated to RNAV standard, which will enable aircraft to climb to higher altitudes more quickly
• Daytime traffic departing Stansted that today heads towards the south will move onto the existing eastbound routes to allow aircraft to climb higher more quickly

High level changes, at 7,000ft and above, will also be implemented along the south coast affecting Bournemouth, Southampton and TAG Farnborough airports. This will mean fewer flights over land.

Content from external source

http://www.nats.aero/news/airspace-change-to-go-live/

 

[Mick West]

Fascinating video, the point merge reminds me of the way traffic is funnled into a point over Yosemite national park for arrival in San Francisco. Except the point merge concept has a much more well defined arc/turn.


It should indeed make for some new interesting contrail patterns.