Frequently Asked Questions
We've put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions which may save you contacting our Flight Operations Team.
Noise Frequently Asked Questions
I have never had aircraft activity in my area before – have you changed the flight paths?
The objective of this project was to maintain a high standard of safety by reducing the complexity of LLA arrivals due to their interacting relationship with Stansted arrivals. In turn, this was predicted to reduce air traffic controller workload and ensure a safe and efficient operation for the future.
Following an extensive public consultation that ran from October 2020 to February 2021, we received more than 2,400 responses which helped inform the final design. This included minimal changes to previous flight paths below 5,000ft with greater dispersion of flights above 5,000ft; adjusting the location and orientation of the new holding area near the A1-A14 junction; and raising the lowest standard altitude of the hold by 1,000ft to reduce potential noise impacts.
The CAA’s website has a page dedicated to the history, progress and documentation relating to this ACP and can be accessed via the Airspace Change portal.
The PIR has been published on the CAA portal on the 11th of July 2024. The CAA will review how the airspace change has performed, including whether anticipated impacts and benefits in the original proposal and decision have been delivered.
Any updates will be published on the portal.
Are LLA planning to make any further changes to flightpaths?
Are aircraft allowed to leave the Noise Preferential Route?
All jet aircraft leaving the airport follow flightpaths known as Noise Preferential Routes up to an altitude of 3,000ft during the day and 4,000ft at night. However, aircraft using our MATCH departure route have to be above an altitude of 4,000ft 24 hours a day. Aircraft can be expected to overfly any location beneath these corridors on departure. Once this altitude has been reached, Air Traffic Control may vector aircraft towards their final destination integrating LLA flights with other air traffic in the area at the time. Therefore, on occasions, people not beneath the NPR corridor may experience direct aircraft activity overhead. These aircraft will generally be above 4,000ft.
Should aircraft fly on the centre line of the Noise Preferential Route?
We encourage aircraft to remain as close to the centre of the corridor as possible. However, it is important to remember that flying an aircraft is not like driving a train along a railway track and there will always be some dispersion of tracks across any Noise Preferential Route corridor. This will be due to any number of meteorological conditions, including wind speed and direction, aircraft performance characteristics or tolerances in navigational equipment.
Is there a ban on night flights?
However, we are conscious of the impact that night flights can have on the local community and we have very few movements at night. We endeavour to mitigate this impact by encouraging airline operators to use quieter aircraft through a stringent penalty system, which fines those aircraft that exceed stipulated noise limits on departure.
Our current night noise violation limit of 79dB(A) is now lower than any other UK airport, which is set by us as the operators of LLA. In addition, we prohibit the operation of older generation jets at night and our landing charges offer incentives for airlines to operate during daytime hours. These measures are designed to help encourage airlines to operate modern, quieter generation aircraft. This forms part of our commitment to help minimise disturbance for our neighbours, whilst balancing the environmental impact and the economic benefit of a successful airport.
What happens to my enquiry or complaint details?
I have noticed an increase in aircraft frequency – why?
Additionally, there is an increase in flights during the summer compared to the winter due to seasonal demand. You can see our actual aircraft movements and passenger numbers in our Quarterly Monitoring Reports.
Can you move the arrivals paths?
Regrettably, it is not possible to vary the path of arriving aircraft to avoid specific locations upon final approach. Current technology and safety requirements dictate ‘straight in’ approaches along a path which is a 3-degree slope along the extended centre line of the runway and therefore entirely dependent on its orientation.
Why are you overflying my area when there is no wind?
Flight patterns will vary depending on the direction of runway usage, either easterly operations or westerly operations. This is dictated by Air Traffic Control based on wind speed plus direction at ground level and at altitude.
Why do some aircraft both take off and land at LLA?
Some aircraft that operate will take off and land at LLA, these flights are usually following off-airways routes and held lower than other aircraft in the airspace. There are two main reasons for flights which both arrive and depart from Luton. One reason is a training flight and the other is a maintenance flight, for example, if an aircraft has not been flown for a period of time - the aircraft must conduct a flight within a specific time frame to keep its certification. These types of flights are only conducted during the daytime period. Both types of flights are very safe and standard practice.
How can I contact the Flight Operations Team?
The easiest and quickest way to log a complaint is through our online flight tracking system Travis
Email us: [email protected]
Leave a voice mail on our telephone line: +44 (0)1582 395382