West and North West London Area
Please note - on February 23 2009 NATS announced that it is to conduct a new consultation on revised proposals for the TCN region. Following simulation and technical testing of those new designs there is still more work to be done before we publish our plans for this part of the airspace.
On October 22 2009 NATS announced that, as a result of the further work still required to be done on the designs and the downturn in air traffic internationally, any further consultation would not now be held before September 2010 at the earliest.
The information on this website relates to the 2008 consultation, which closed in June 2008, and is being kept live for information only. The new proposals will be posted on this site when the new consultation begins.
This page provides an introduction to the changes proposed for the West and North West London 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.
West and North West London airspace is mainly used at lower altitudes by Heathrow arrivals and departures. Northolt, a military airport to the north of Heathrow, generates a relatively small amount of traffic in the area.
The following routes passing over this area would remain the same as today and be unaffected by this proposal:
- Gatwick arrivals and departures
- Heathrow arrivals and departures heading west, south or south east
- Arrivals and departures from smaller airfields in the London area
- Northolt arrivals
- Overflights to and from other UK airports, the Americas, Europe and the east
Routes that would change under this proposal are:
- Heathrow departures to the north and north east
- Northolt departures
Precision Area Navigation (P-RNAV)
These changes comply with the safety standards of 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. This means departing aircraft which are below 4,000ft may be more concentrated along the centre of a route.
Northolt generates relatively little traffic compared to the main London airports and is mainly used by military aircraft and business jets.
However, its proximity to Heathrow means the positioning of its routes is key to the efficient handling of traffic at its busier neighbour.
Northolt departures have been redesigned to improve safety and the efficient use of the airspace and to allow P-RNAV to be used.
Noise Preferential Routes (NPRs)
Aircraft departing Heathrow currently fly along defined Noise Preferential Routes (NPRs) designed many years ago to minimise the population overflown.
Aircraft must stay within the NPRs which extend approximately one mile either side of the defined route up to a maximum height of 4,000ft.
The Department for Transport's policy is to maintain long-term stability of routes close to airports. Therefore NATS has ensured minimum change to the Heathrow NPRs.
There would, however, be a minor change to these routes over Hounslow and Wraysbury where aircraft would make a wider first turn after take off than they do today.
The NPR definition remains the same, although because of the introduction of P-RNAV aircraft would be more concentrated in the central area rather than being spread across its whole width.
For full details of the West and North West London area please refer to the consultation document.