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Airspace users and local community groups are being consulted over the next 12 weeks about plans to reintroduce controlled airspace at London Southend Airport.

The process - which includes borough, local and parish councils - started on 20 September 2013 and will last for 12 weeks, completing on 19 December 2013.

London Southend Airport is making this application in order to further safeguard aircraft on approach to and departure from the airport and minimise distance flown to reduce environmental impacts.

The Airport had Controlled Airspace until 1993, when it was removed following a reduction in scheduled services using the airport. Temporary Controlled Airspace was also in operation at the airport in summer 2012 during the London Olympic Games.

Controlled Airspace is a defined area of the airspace around an airport where any aircraft must communicate with Air Traffic Control. The application to introduce controlled airspace was one of the commitments the airport made to local councils and community groups as part of the airport’s redevelopment.  

Currently aircraft are permitted to come within 2.5 miles and 2000 feet of London Southend Airport without having to talk to air traffic controllers, which can lead to unplanned alterations to an aircraft’s track and possible delays in the arrival and departure of scheduled aircraft.

It is envisaged the entire application process – which started in August 2012 - will take around two years to complete.

London Southend Airport Operations Director David Lister said “Safety and security are our number one priority.  Controlled Airspace safeguards aircraft when they are approaching and departing the airport. Improving our efficiency by getting aircraft in and out of the airport without  alterations and delays will also minimise the impact of the airport on the local community and is better for the environment. Temporary Controlled Airspace around London Southend Airport was operated very successfully during the London 2012 Games. With passenger operations having been re-established to the level of our previous peak, when controlled airspace was previously in operation we believe the re-establishment of controlled airspace around London Southend Airport is now appropriate.”

The final decision over whether to reinstate the Controlled Airspace over London Southend Airport will be taken by the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group (SARG) within the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The consultation document can be viewed at www.southendairport.com/news/controlled-airspace