Attempts to quiet fears over flights from Bournemouth Airport (From Bournemouth Echo)

Attempts to quiet fears over flights from Bournemouth Airport

7:00pm Monday 24th August 2009 in

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AIRPORT officials have spoken out to quiet fears over noisy night flights.

Concerns have been raised over noise limits in a Bournemouth Airport consultation document revealing that noise from flights could increase three-fold without the need for further permission.

The consultation was launched in the same week as a statement from Thomson Holidays and First Choice, announcing new routes from the airport next year to Turkey, Corfu, Tunisia and Sharm el Sheikh.

But Bournemouth Airport’s spokesperson, Sally Windsor, said a number of misconceptions had arisen in recent weeks over the number of passenger flights operating at night next year.

She said: “To set the record straight, at the moment, we do not envisage that there will be much variation from this year's programme. “In fact, working on current information provided by the tour operators, there could be a slight reduction in passenger night flights during the 2010 summer season.”

Less than 30 night flights a week had been made during this year’s peak summer season, she added, with all but five of them used for the delivery of mail and newspapers.

Annual noise from the airport stands at 895 Quota Count points, with noisier aircraft using up more points, in a bid by authorities to encourage airports and airlines to use the quietest aircraft.

The airport’s noise consultation document shows a yearly limit set by Christchurch Borough Council of 3,100 points – more than three times that currently used.

Annette Brooke, the MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said the limit meant the airport could increase the number of flights without having to seek permission.

“We have started a petition calling for no extra night flights.

“I think people like using the airport, but they see more night flights as a step too far,” said Mrs Brooke.

A Broadstone resident said her concerns over disturbance from night flights were shared by a number of people in the area.

“We are under the flight path. When aircraft come in low, we can read the name of the carrier.

“If this was transferred to night flights and night flights increased, we dread to think what the noise would be like,” she said.