Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on aircraft not adhering to the Compton easterly departure route from Heathrow; and what plans he plans to address (a) that issue and (b) noise pollution arising from such non-adherence.

The Department receives regular correspondence from the public on Heathrow noise matters and this has included occasional representations on questions about the Compton routes.

The Government are aware that some aircraft are unable to follow accurately the long established easterly Compton Noise Preferential Route at Heathrow. It is expected that as part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Future Airspace Strategy, existing departure routes at Heathrow will need to be reviewed and updated so that aircraft can use more accurate satellite-based navigation. Any such proposal will be subject to the CAA’s airspace change process which includes consultation requirements.