Plane Wrong AGM Thursday 13 October 2016/ 19.30 21.30pm Mike Ward Chair Stuart Lindsay - CAA Sarah Clayton - Airport Watch Leslie Kelly - Secretary ((absent) Peter Lambell - Treasurer Betchworth Village Hall 1. Apologies number of apologies received via email 2. Approval of Minutes from 2015 AGM Adoption of minutes, approved with no matters arising. Proposed by Fran Flammiger, second Peter Lambell 3.Chair s Report -previously circulated and read. The year has been dominated by two things: the continued threat of the imposition of a 2nd runway and the changes to Route 4 following the CAA s Post Implementation Review. But in addition, there were many other important issues. 2nd Runway Threat We have been on alert for a runway decision for a year now following the publication of the Davies report. This is the single most important airport-related issue facing our area and it seems that a decision may finally be made in October, possibly even before we meet. I cannot over-stress the devastating impact that a 2nd runway at Gatwick would have. So, I hope you are all taking the actions we recommended in Newsletter 19. By the time you read this we hope to have provided you with access to a leaflet that you can print at home and put through your neighbours doors asking them to act as well. The best time to stop the runway is now before it is announced. It will be much harder afterwards. Route 4 The CAA s Post Implementation Review brought both good and bad news. The conclusion that Route 4 was non-compliant and needed to be changed was very welcome. However, we were very disappointed that the CAA formally approved the P-RNAV implementation of Route 3. This means that this Route is permanent unless and until someone proposes an airspace change and that is approved by the CAA. I come back to this below. Route 4 was finally changed on 26 May this year, more than 2 years after the unacceptable implementation of the first P-RNAV Route. This has delivered 2 significant improvements in that more planes now fly within the NPR than was the case with the previous Route and there is more dispersion around the bend. Keeping within the NPR benefits communities on the outer edge of the NPR right along the Route from Coldharbour to Redhill and beyond. The greater dispersion benefits some people who previously suffered badly from the concentration. 1
However, not everything is satisfactory about the new route. We believe that there are still too many planes outside the NPR, although we understand that Gatwick are working with airlines to reduce this. We are also unhappy with the high proportion of planes flying close to the outer edge of the NPR and are currently seeking advice from our consultants on how this can be addressed. Both these issues particularly affect parts of Beare Green and other communities on the northern edge of the NPR. We have a meeting with Gatwick planned and I will report verbally on this at the meeting. Returning the planes back inside the NPR has not worked for everyone. A particular problem is the straight part of the Route from Leigh onwards which remains extremely concentrated and has moved south, broadly back to the centre of the NPR. There is also an issue with concentration over Capel as the planes are starting their turns earlier and are therefore lower and noisier (compared with 2014/5) when they arrive over Capel. Another development has been the emergence of new groups from areas that were less affected by the previous route but find that the new route is worse than the old conventional route that operated prior to 2014. We have met some of these groups and will need to try to agree a common agenda with them. The Noise Management Board, of which more below, is working on a definition of Fair and Equitable Dispersal that we hope to agree with all the airport stakeholders. Thank you to everyone who sent comments. Please continue to send them route4@gatwickairport.com. Route 3 We have been less active on Route 3 this year because the opportunity to do so is less at the moment following the PIR decision and because the final outcome of Route 4 might have a bearing on the detail of what we want to push for on Route 3. As far as possible, we would like to avoid the same people suffering from both routes, especially in a concentrated form. We have also been mindful that Route 4 operates approximately 70% of the time and improvements to that benefit most if not all of our Members and supporters. Recently, we have picked this up again and been advised by our consultants that a similar level of dispersal to that which now exists round the turn on Route 4 could also be achieved on Route 3 using P-RNAV. We intend to press for this to be introduced at the next suitable opportunity. This is likely to be a full Departures Review, similar to the recently completed Arrivals Review. However, GAL has not fully committed to this yet and have promised a decision by the end of the year. Noise Management Board Arising out of the Arrivals Review, Gatwick has set up a Noise Management Board with representatives from various industry stakeholders, elected Councillors and 4 from Community Groups each with an alternate. This means that 8 Community Groups are represented and I am representing Plane Wrong and sharing one of the places with CAGNE. The Board was only set up in June and has had 2 meetings so far, both concentrating on the implementation of the Arrivals Review recommendations. So, it is early days to tell whether it is going work for communities but the early signs are that there is a willingness for it to do so. Aviation Communities Forum This is a body of airport Groups from across the whole country that aims to influence Government policy and the CAA on key issues such as concentration and night flights. The Department for Transport has been due to issue a consultation document on a series of issues of importance to us but these have been delayed pending the extra runway announcement. The CAA is revising its Airspace Change process after their own consultants told them that it was not fit for purpose. The consultation document came out earlier this year and we submitted detailed comments. 2
Committee During the year Simon Hibbs stepped down as Treasurer and was replaced by Peter Lambell. We thank Simon for the contribution he made both as Treasurer and as a Committee Member. The Committee also co-opted 2 new Members, Ariane Blok and Robert Lulham. The workload of dealing with all these issues and keeping everyone informed about them is significant and could be not be achieved without the whole-hearted support of the entire committee and I thank them on your behalf. Thanks to additional members of the advisory panel - Simon Lees, Robert Lulham, Andrew Melvin and Seth Lovis. Fran Flammiger has not sought re-election as Vice Chair, Fran has played a major role representing Plane Wrong and setting strategy and a public thanks to Fran Flammiger. Additional Verbal Update by Chair / Slides Presented Work from To70-6% of flights outside of NPR. Some will say that this does not correlate with their own experience. Over 4000ft does not count as being outside of NPR. Meeting with GAL identified a number of issues, one of which was to improve compliance of flights flying outside of NPR. The following slides were presented to the meeting Tracks up to 4,000f versus Complete NPR 3
Complete Tracks (all altitudes) versus NPR turn only 4
Groundspeed (kts): 2016 (blue) versus 2013 (yellow) Above chart shows that 75% of flights have a ground speed at this gate 35 way point greater than the limit of 220knts. Probably a lower proportion is exceeding the speed limit as airspeed could be lower because of tail wind. Also, raised with GAL, believe that reducing the speed round the bend will reduce flights outside NPR. 5
Westerly Operations route 4 (runway26) 6 th August 2004 Pressing GAL for a new SID when wind is strong and from wrong direction. Wind from the wrong direction will mean flights will not make the turn within the NPR. GAl have changed complaints procedure -now have to visit website and fill in a form. Audience replied this is bad as it means visiting website. All data from complaints are now collected and analysed. Questions from Floor Were PW consulted about change in complaints procedure? Chair replied that it was presented through Noise Management Board. Chair s report proposed by Michaela Butt, second Ariane Blok 6
4. Treasurer s Report Income and Expenditure Account to date Income: Cheque Donations 3,574.04 Automated Donations 12,770.00 Miscellaneous Donations 2,859.17 Bank charge refund 30.00 Total Income to Date: 19,233.21 Total Expenses Incurred to Date: ( 14,346.85) Income less Expenses: 4,886.36 Accrued Expenses: 0.00 Balance Available to Plane Wrong 4,886.36 Bank Reconciliation: Balance Per Latest Bank Statement 4,940.34 Difference ( 53.98) Explanation of differences: Unpresented cheques 53.98 Explained Differences 53.98 Unexplained Differences 0.00 Financial Statement 2015-16 Income: CF from 2014-2015 8,877.52 Donations 223.87 Bank charge refund 30.00 Total Income 9,131.39 Expenditure: Professional Fees: Aviation & Airspace Consultants 1,414.05 Legal 2,520.00 3,934.05 Public meetings 175.00 Leaflets production & print 0.00 Insurance 0.00 Web-site 95.98 7
Subscriptions 40.00 Total Expenditure 4,245.03 Excess Income over Expenditure 4,886.36 Balance Sheet Current Assets: Cash at Bank 4,940.34 Current liabilities: Unpresented cheques 53.98 Total Assets: 4,886.36 Accumulated Fund 4,886.36 Peter Lambell Treasurer 07-Oct-16 Mike Ward - Chair 07-Oct-16 No questions from the floor Proposed by Ian Wilson, second by Fran Flammiger 5. Election of officers/committee nominations Chair - Mike Ward, Vice-chair - Judith Sykes, Secretary - Leslie Kelly, Treasurer- Peter Lambell Committee- Helen Burr, Ariane Blok, Andrew Fordyce, Jeanette Simpson, Fran Flammiger, Ian Wilson Proposed Christine Thom. Second by Susan Ward 6. Constitutional Amendments Chair asked if there were any questions. No questions and amendments were accepted. Page 2 - (j) delete wording with the group. Page 2- (k) delete comma and amend with word and Page 3- (1)- add wording not later than 31 st October each year Page 3- (2) Add sentence A communication sent to last email address provided by and not returned shall be regarded as a valid notice. the Member Page 3- (3) second bullet point delete sentence completely. Page 4 item 9 delete from constitution. Proposed - Michela Butt Seconded - Fran Flammiger and approved on a show of hands with greater than two-thirds majority. 8
7. Future Plan 2016/7 Plan Our Objectives Westerly and easterly departure routes returned to pre 2014 position with dispersal as previously No 2 nd runway at Gatwick Consultation to be accessible, understandable and free from bias. Expected Events & Timing 2 nd runway decision - imminent End of review period of new westerly departure route November Policy discussions between representatives of airport groups and DfT ongoing Departures Review Next year, dependent on GAL decision Key activities Evaluating outcomes of events against Plane Wrong objectives. Progress work on Fair & Equitable Dispersal and consult if this implies change to Objectives Responding appropriately to outcomes, including legal action if necessary Raising money (if legal action needed) Lobbying influencers and policy makers, especially GAL, CAA, DfT & GATCOM Participating in Noise Management Board Informing and consulting Members and supporters NB A decision in favour of a 2 nd runway at Gatwick would require considerable effort and resource to be directed to opposing this in co-operation with other Gatwick groups operating the GACC umbrella. Proposed by Helen Burr, second by Peter Lambell 8. AOB Nil Chair closed the AGM and concludes formal part of the meeting. Chair welcome guests Sarah Clayton and Stuart Lindsay. 9