Heathrow bosses to consider extended runway proposal as alternative to R3 ?
Unlikely as it sounds, yesterday's FT reports that HAH may carry out a detailed examination of, and possibly even adopt, the Heathrow Hub proposal to extend the northern runway as an alternative to building a new one.
This will, we're told, depend on the findings of a proposed public consultation to establish whether community opposition is greater towards the idea of more areas being exposed to noise (under the R3 flightpath) or to the almost complete loss of respite alternation implied by the runway extension alternative (although R3 will also adversely impact respite).
Heathrow to examine alternative plan to third runway - FT.com
The article is behind a pay-wall so haven't read it.
Apart from the technical implications, it is surprising that Heathrow management would support this.
They've always opposed mixed mode operations, because they believed that flightpath residents won't tolerate it, which is true.
Chances are that existing flightpath residents will not want to lose their respite and will not be concerned if new areas end up under the flightpath. Those not under flightpath may not want to be, and will be unconcerned if existing flightpath residents lose their respite.
So it's hard to see what they hope to achieve.
Does a rwy extension, for that is what it is, need government approval?