AIRPORT SET TO PRODUCE NOISE PROJECTIONS AS EASTLEIGH MP FIGHTS RESIDENTS CASE

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 26th Sep 2005

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne pressed senior management at Southampton Airport to forecast the noise that would affect residents both at the Bishopstoke and the Bitterne Park end of the runway.

Mr Huhne participated in the stakeholders' conference held at St Mary's Stadium on Friday, and asked that the airport co-operate with the borough to produce detailed projections of noise.

"At present, residents cannot get a clear idea of the likely future of aircraft noise. On the one hand, there are projected to be more aircraft taking off and landing. On the other hand, the aircraft are getting a lot quieter" said Mr Huhne. "The airport needs to produce forecasts that take both factors into account".

He pointed out that the Embraer 195 is between 20 and 40 per cent quieter than the Bae 146 that it will replace in the FlyBe fleet, even though the Bae 146 was once known as the "whisperjet". Flybe is responsible for two thirds of the flights from Southampton Airport.

Mr Huhne, who lives in Dutton Lane under the northern approach to the airport, said that he would willingly swap a couple of quiet flights for a really noisy take off or landing such as the Britten Norman Trislander.

Mr Huhne said that both the airport staff and the borough planners had given the idea a welcome.

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