KENT INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (K.I.A.C.C.)
previously known as
Manston Airport
Consultative Committee (M.A.C.C)
Kent International Airport – Monitoring of Night Flights
April 2005
Introduction
Kent International Airport provides Kent and the South East with links to a number of European destinations. The airport currently provides scheduled and charter flights through EUjet, Europe’s newest low-cost airline as well as an expanding package of cargo services to airlines and operators.
Thanet District Council and Planestation, the operators of Kent International Airport have entered into a planning agreement under Section 106 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 & Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972. This is a voluntary agreement to regulate how land is used and developed and imposes obligations on the landowner. This is a legally binding agreement that can be altered with the agreement of both parties.
The Section 106 Agreement provides safeguards for the environment and community of Thanet. The existing agreement was signed in 2000 and is currently being reviewed prior to revision.
As part of this Section 106 Agreement a Night Flying Policy had to be prepared prior to regular night flying operations. A Night Flying Policy has been produced and a summer schedule of night flights began on 1 April 2005. As part of this policy monthly reports are being produced to show all night-time air traffic movements.
History of the Airfield
The airfield was first used in 1915 as a military airport but it wasn’t until 1943/44 that the existing runway was constructed to provide returning aircraft with a suitable landing area as soon as they crossed the channel. The runway is a staggering 2,752m long and 61m wide.
Commercial operations began in 1959 when Silver City Airways made Manston its base. Customs facilities were provided in 1960 and military trooping flights and training sorties generated extra air traffic. 1963 saw Air Ferry begin operations out of Manston followed by Invicta in 1965, Air Ferry ceased trading in 1969 while Invicta reduced schedules in 1970. The commercial operations did not significantly expand until the introduction of EUjet in 2004.
The airport was sold by the Ministry of Defence in 1998 and following significant investment received a commercial licence from the Civil Aviation Authority the following year. To meet the requirements for a commercial licence new Air Traffic Control facilities and fires services were installed, the airfield navigation aids upgraded and the runway resurfaced. The Ministry of Defence has maintained a presence on the site due to the Military Fire Training Establishment being located on site.
Two new aprons and a taxiway linking the runway with the passenger apron became operational in 2002. These improvements substantially increased the airport’s capacity to handle both freight and passenger traffic with EUjet beginning passenger flights from the airport in September 2004.
Fokker 100
EUjet, the main company currently operating out of Kent International Airport, have a fleet of Fokker 100 aircraft. The aircraft seats a maximum of 108 passengers at a 32" seat pitch. It has a maximum cruising speed of 845km/h and a long-range cruising speed of 737Km/h. The Fokker 100 has a wingspan of 28.08m, 35.53m long and a height of 8.5m. The aircraft is equipped with economical Rolls Royce Tay Mk 62015 turbofans. These turbofans have a noise certification of less than 90EPNdB conforming to Stage 3 noise limits. The QC count for take off and landing is just 0.5. The aircraft therefore has low noise and emission levels, this is also attributed to its low fuel burn.
The QC classification of an aircraft is intended to reflect the contribution that aircraft makes to the total noise impact around an airport. The QC classifications measure noise in relative terms, a QC/2 aircraft is deemed to have twice the impact of a QC/1 aircraft. The QC classifications of an aircraft are determined from their certificated noise levels, which are measured in EPNdB.
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Noise Classification |
QC Points |
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Greater than 101.9 EPNdB |
16 |
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99 - 101.9 EPNdB |
8 |
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96 – 98.9 EPNdB |
4 |
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93 – 95.9 EPNdB |
2 |
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90 – 92.9 EPNdB |
1 |
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Less than 90 EPNdB |
0.5 |
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Less than 87 EPNdB |
Exempt |
Night-Time Flying Policy
Thanet District Council has agreed a Night-Time Flying Policy for the limited 6 month period of Summer 2005. The Council has made it clear that compliance with the Policy will be carefully monitored, and reported. With the information made public domain and used to inform any future decisions on night flying.
Future Reporting and Noise Levels
Work with noise consultants is ongoing to produce noise
levels, to be read alongside this report, and with complaint statistics.
In due course, and definitely at the 3 month stage, and at the end of the
period, future reports will incorporate noise statistics.
Table to show the eleven night flights scheduled and agreed as per the night flight policy
Before 18 April 2005
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Belfast - 23:10 |
Belfast - 00:50 |
Faro - 00:40 |
Girona - 00:30 |
Ibiza - 00:20 |
Malaga - 00:30 |
Malaga - 23:50 |
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18 April 2005, and post
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Newcastle - 23:10 |
Belfast - 00:50 |
Faro - 00:40 |
Faro – 00.50 |
Ibiza - 00:20 |
Malaga - 00:30 |
Malaga - 23:50 |
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Note
The Policy originally permitted 5 weekday arrivals from Belfast. For operational reasons, the Airport Owner requested that these be exchanged for 5 arrivals from Belfast. This has been agreed with the Council on 18 April 2005.
Similarly, for business reasons the Sunday 00.30 from Girona has been replaced by a 00.50 arrival from Faro.
Table to show all night flight movements to the 30th April 2005 with explanations for any deviations from the schedule and policy.
The data regarding aircraft movement are provided to the Council by the Airport Owner on a weekly basis. All aircraft movement after 23:00 is shown in the table, with those flights subject to the Night-Time Flying Policy highlighted. The column titled wind/velocity shows the direction/windspeed. These factors influence runway (Rwy) direction.
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Monthly Operational Report - Night Time Flying Policy 1st April - 30th September 2005 |
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Policy Flights |
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Day |
Date |
Flight No |
Destination |
Type |
QC |
Arr/Dep |
Rwy |
Time (local) |
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Wind |
Justification |
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From/To |
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Scheduled |
Actual |
Velocity |
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Sun |
27.03.05 |
EUJ 378P |
Paris |
F100 |
0.5 |
Dep |
28 |
2300 |
2334 |
300/08 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements |
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Sun |
27.03.05 |
EUJ 383 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Dep |
28 |
1945 |
2343 |
300/08 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements |
|
Mon |
28.03.05 |
EUJ 29P |
Gatwick |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
Unscheduled |
0059 |
300/08 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements - a/c positioned in from Gatwick for next day |
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Tues |
29.03.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2326 |
070/14 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements. |
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Tues |
29.03.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2352 |
070/14 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements |
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Wed |
30.03.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2334 |
130/05 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements |
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Thur |
31.03.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2329 |
190/01 |
Fog disrupted the days programme resulting in late movements |
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Thur |
31.03.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0040 |
2357 |
190/01 |
Re-scheduled through Shannon due to fog |
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Fri |
01.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2311 |
100/03 |
Delay at Newcastle |
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Fri |
01.04.05 |
EUJ 204 |
Prague |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2250 |
2330 |
100/02 |
Aircraft change causing delayed outbound. 28 arrival was Pilot request due to poor visibility |
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Fri |
01.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2334 |
100/02 |
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Fri |
01.04.05 |
EUJ 501 |
Shannon |
F100 |
0.5 |
Dep |
10 |
2025 |
2311 |
020/02 |
Operational Delays |
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Sun |
02.04.05 |
EUJ 596 |
Palma |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
1845 |
0051 |
120/06 |
Operational Delays |
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Mon |
04.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0050 |
0010 |
130/04 |
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Mon |
04.04.05 |
No flights beyond 2300 L |
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Tues |
05.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2310 |
2318 |
200/07 |
Surface wind |
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Tues |
05.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2250 |
2322 |
200/07 |
Surface wind |
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Wed |
06.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2250 |
2307 |
220/10 |
Surface wind |
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Wed |
06.04.05 |
EUJ 734 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0030 |
2355 |
210/11 |
Surface wind |
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Thur |
07.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2323 |
280/05 |
Surface wind |
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Fri |
08.04.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0040 |
0002 |
240/05 |
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Fri |
08.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2250 |
2320 |
340/22 |
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Sat |
09.04.05 |
EUJ 516 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2350 |
2348 |
260/08 |
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Sat |
09.04.05 |
EUJ 214 |
Girona |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0030 |
2356 |
260/08 |
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Sun |
10.04.05 |
EUJ 576 |
Ibiza |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0020 |
0011 |
260/08 |
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Mon |
11.04.05 |
EUJ 394 |
Edinburgh |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2225 |
2352 |
320/02 |
Flight merged with Newcastle causing a delay |
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Mon |
11.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0050 |
2359 |
320/02 |
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Mon |
11.04.05 |
No flights beyond 2300 L |
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Tues |
12.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2302 |
220/05 |
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Tues |
12.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2326 |
220/05 |
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Thur |
14.04.05 |
EUJ 734 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0030 |
0024 |
180/05 |
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Fri |
15.04.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0040 |
0002 |
Calm |
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Fri |
15.04.05 |
EUJ 204 |
Prague |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2301 |
160/03 |
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Sat |
16.04.05 |
EUJ 516 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2350 |
2348 |
320/05 |
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Sun |
17.04.05 |
EUJ 576 |
Ibiza |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0020 |
0005 |
320/05 |
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Sun |
17.04.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0050 |
0031 |
320/05 |
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Mon |
18.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0050 |
0016 |
150/06 |
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Mon |
18.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2305 |
300/02 |
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Tues |
19.04.05 |
No flights beyond 2300 L |
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Wed |
20.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2310 |
2300 |
20/07 |
Unserviceable navigation aids |
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Thur |
21.04.05 |
EUJ 734 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0030 |
0018 |
20/07 |
Unserviceable navigation aids |
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Thur |
21.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2315 |
70/10 |
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Fri |
22.04.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0040 |
0019 |
70/09 |
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Fri |
22.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2310 |
VRB Light |
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Sat |
23.04.05 |
EUJ 516 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2350 |
2325 |
70/07 |
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Sat/ |
23/24.04.05 |
EUJ 576 |
Ibiza |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0020 |
2358 |
70/07 |
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Sun |
24.04.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0050 |
0035 |
70/07 |
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Mon |
25.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0050 |
0013 |
360/05 |
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Mon |
25.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2310 |
2312 |
220/03 |
28 used in preference to 10 because of better navigation aids in very poor weather conditions |
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Mon |
25.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
ATR 72 |
Exempt |
Arr |
28 |
2255 |
2342 |
220/03 |
28 used in preference to 10 because of better navigation aids in very poor weather conditions. Replacement a/c Slower airspeed resulting in later arrival. |
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Tues |
26.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2309 |
190/04 |
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Tues |
26.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2255 |
2320 |
190/04 |
Problems out of Belfast causing a knock on effect. |
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Thur |
28.04.05 |
EUJ 734 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0030 |
0015 |
200/04 |
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Thur |
28.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2310 |
2255 |
190/08 |
28 used in preference to 10 because of better navigation aids in very poor weather conditions |
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Thur |
28.04.05 |
EUJ 384 |
Belfast |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
2255 |
2300 |
190/07 |
28 used in preference to 10 because of better navigation aids in very poor weather conditions |
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Thur |
28.04.05 |
EUJ 524 |
Faro |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
28 |
0040 |
2357 |
180/08 |
28 used in preference to 10 because of better navigation aids in very poor weather conditions |
|
Fri |
29.04.05 |
EUJ 204 |
Prague |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2250 |
2313 |
190/02 |
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Fri |
29.04.05 |
EUJ 366 |
Newcastle |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2310 |
2258 |
190/02 |
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Sat |
30.04.05 |
EUJ 516 |
Malaga |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
2350 |
2327 |
260/05 |
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Sat |
30.04.05 |
EUJ 576 |
Ibiza |
F100 |
0.5 |
Arr |
10 |
0020 |
2359 |
260/05 |
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The
All exceptions are reported (with reasons).
Commentary and Penalties
- Several times during the month aircraft from amongst the 11 permitted, scheduled, passenger arrivals have arrived late, and occasionally for operational reasons, on different days than scheduled. But the flights were not additional and are therefore not captured by paragraph 7.1 of the Night-Time Flying Policy (penalties). On one occasion; a scheduled departure (1st April) to Shannon was delayed for operational reasons and did not leave until 23:11.
- It is evident that review of the Policy will need to consider the issue of delay.
- The 2 scheduled departures on 27 March are outside the spirit and purpose of the Night-Time Flying Policy because they are departures, and the Policy aims to only permit 11 arrivals. Penalties of 2 x £1000 cannot be enforced because of the original wording of the Policy. This has since been improved, and agreed between Planestation and the Council, such that any future similar departures would be penalised. And against that background the Airport Owner has been asked to consider donating 2 x £1000 to the Community Fund.