Chilterns and Luton Area
This page provides an introduction to the changes proposed for the Chilterns and Luton area.
Airspace does not conform to geographic boundaries so if you are close to the edge of one of the areas we have defined you may also want to look at the information on the neighbouring area.
Airspace over most of southern and eastern England is already used by aircraft heading to or from airports across the region and beyond.
Aircraft heading to or from the north and west generally fly through the Chilterns and Luton area. This includes all aircraft arriving or departing Luton Airport.
The following routes passing over the area would remain the same as today and be unaffected by this proposal:
- Gatwick arrivals and departures
- Heathrow arrivals and departures
- Arrivals and departures to smaller airfields in the London area
- Overflights to and from other UK airports, the Americas, Europe and the east.
Routes that would change under this proposal are:
- Luton departures and arrivals
- Stansted arrivals and departures to the north and south west
- London City departures to the north
- Northolt departures
- Cambridge arrivals
Precision Area Navigation (P-RNAV)
The proposals would change Luton arrival and departure routes to enable aircraft to use P-RNAV, a new navigation technology that is being introduced in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority direction.
P-RNAV technology can provide safety, efficiency and environmental benefits.
Aircraft can follow a P-RNAV designed route more accurately than a conventionally designed route.
That means departing aircraft which are below 4,000ft may be more concentrated along the centre of a route.
Stansted departures to the north and west pass through the Chilterns and Luton area. These would be redesigned bringing both safety and efficiency improvements and enabling P-RNAV to be used.
Northolt departures also pass through part of the area. These too would be changed to improve safety and efficiency, to ensure efficient separation from Heathrow traffic and to allow implementation of P-RNAV.
Noise Preferential Routes (NPRs)
Luton departures fly along defined NPRs which means they must keep their flight path to within approximately a mile either side of the defined centre of the route up to a maximum height of either 3,000ft or 4,000ft.
NPRs for Luton would be changed to minimise the population overflown, reduce future delay and ensure compliance with new route design standards.
Other changes
Departures from London City to the north west currently cross part of this area flying through an area already congested with Heathrow, Luton and Stansted traffic.
These departures will no longer fly over the Chilterns and Luton area.
Changes to Stansted arrivals are outside this area. However, aircraft using a new route from the holds to Stansted may be seen over the eastern edge of the area although generally higher than today.
For full details of the Chilterns and Luton area please refer to the consultation document.