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  • Airspace change

Luton runway 26 PIR

Post implementation review of changes to airspace structure, Brookmans PARK RNAV1 SIDs
  • Permanent airspace change proposals under CAP725
  • Overview of permanent airspace change proposals
  • London Airspace Management Programme Phase 1A
  • FASI(N) (ex PLAS)
  • Post implementation reviews
    • How changes are assessed
    • Changes to Gatwick departures 2013
    • Luton runway 26 PIR
    • LAMP phase 1A PIR
    • Newcastle International Airport SIDs PIR
  • The purpose of the PIR is for the CAA, as the independent regulator, to assess whether the change has delivered the anticipated impacts and benefits set out in the original airspace change proposal and decision, and if not to ascertain why and determine the most appropriate course of action.

    Last updated: 6 February 2020

    PIR data due

    2 Oct 2017

    Scope and objectives of the review determined and our confirmation of the data requirements issued to the organisation that requested the change.

    Advance requirements provided, subject to further confirmation.

    14 Dec 2015

    Luton advised CAA that:

    • Some Boeing aircraft flying the RNAV SIDs had issues with the database coding in the way in which their aircraft Flight Management Systems are interpreting how to fly the procedures.
    • This is resulting on occasions some Boeing aircraft flying further to the west and south on the turn towards Brookmans Park.
    • Luton had therefore suspended the use of the SID by Boeing aircraft in December 2015.
    • The causes of the issues continue to be investigated by the operators affected.
    • The SIDs would continue to be available to operators of Airbus aircraft and other non-Boeing aircraft types.
    16 Feb 2016

    CAA confirms to Luton Airport that:

    1. The original target for commencement of the data analysis phase of the PIR of 20 August has been suspended.
    2. CAA awaits details of the SID design revisions that will enable all operators to fly the RNAV SID as anticipated.
    3. Once a revised design has been approved by the CAA, implemented in the AIP and flown for 6 months, the PIR data collection and analysis phase will commence.
    4. Detailed PIR data submission requirements to be confirmed with Luton in due course.
    16 Mar 2016
    CAA request to Luton Airport: clarification of continued use by other than Airbus aircraft requested. 5 May 2016

    Luton Airport is collating feedback on the changes to the replicated departure flight paths introduced in August 2015. Comments on the replicated departure procedure should be sent to Luton airport via their website.

    The Luton Airport Noise page was designed to help give a better understanding of the various aspects of aircraft noise, not just the RNAV route. LLA postponed an RNAV update anticipated for July 2016, however on the LLA RNAV web page, LLA published details of a community engagement event held on 6 October, which provided an update on the RNAV SID.

    You can view LLA updates on their RNAV development on the Luton Airport website.

    24 Jun 2016
    SID design revisions (referred to in the 16 March 2016 update) received on 18 July 2016. CAA currently reviewing the designs. 18 Jul 2016
    The design for the amended Rwy 26 BPK RNAV SID has been approved to address the issues highlighted above for certain Boeing aircraft types. 14 Nov 2016
    Consolidated PIR requirements to Luton 19 Jan 2017

    Revised SIDs to be implemented

    2 Feb 2017
    Comments about the use of the revised SID should be sent to Luton in accordance with their complaints procedure 8 Mar 2017 
    Having considered a number of factors, including matters raised by local stakeholders and residents and taking into account the winter and summer schedules, the period for data gathering advised to Luton Airport on 19 January 2017 has been extended to 30 September 2017. London Luton Airport will submit complaint data to the CAA from when the original RNAV SID was implemented on 20 August 2015, until it was revised on 2 February 2017, after which Luton will submit data received from the revised design from 2 February 2017 until 30 September 2017. 19 Apr 2017 

    PIR initiation date

    Due 6 months following revised procedure implemented.

    30 Sep 2017
    The final PIR data was received on Mon 30 October; the CAA will review this data, and will publish the outcome of the PIR together with the data received from Luton as soon as our review is complete.  
    No dates have been set for the completion of this work.
     

    We expect the review of operational data will commence in quarter 2 of 2019, although analysis of stakeholder feedback has already commenced.  We are unable to set a completion date for the PIR review because it is not unusual that a review will raise issues and questions that require further CAA investigation and information/clarification from the sponsor. We will provide a further update as soon as our work is completed.

     6 Mar 2019


  • Post implementation review

    As part of the review the CAA has published the data provided by the sponsor in support of the PIR. 

    Data and analysis provided by the sponsor

    London Luton Airport Operations Limited (LLAOL) provided data to the CAA for the first period of operations at Luton between July 2016 and November 2016. The RNAV 1 SID received a minor modification in February 2017, data was collected again from that point until the end of September 2017.  

    Details of ACP-2012-01 Luton Runway 26 BPK RNAV-1 SIDs are available on this page: Luton Runway 26 BPK RNAV-1 SID

    Data provided from July - November 2016


  • Gate analysis

    July 2015 and July 2016 gate analysis to show a comparison of lateral and vertical profiles of departing aircraft as they cross the railway line (St Albans to Harpenden) and Sandridge. 

    • Gate analysis July 2015/2016

    Vertical profiles of departures

    Vertical profiles of departures to show a comparison of departures between July 2015 and July 2016.

    • Track dispersion plots for aircraft up to 7,000 for one month comparison (Jul 2015/Jul 2016) 

    Complaints data submitted to LLAOL

    • Luton Airport - Noise Complaints (Aug 2016 - Nov 2016)             
    • Luton Airport - Noise Complaints by mapped by postcode (Aug 2016 - Nov 2016)

     

    Track dispersion plots and track density plots

    For the periods of August to November 2014 and the same period in 2016. A comparison of track dispersion plots and track density plots which show the lateral profile of aircraft over the ground.

    • Track dispersion plots and density diagrams for monthly usage for both conv SID and RNAV SID (Aug 2014/Aug 2016)             
    • Track dispersion plots and density diagrams for monthly usage for both conv SID and RNAV SID (Sep 2014/Sep 2016)             
    • Track dispersion plots and density diagrams for monthly usage for both conv SID and RNAV SID (Oct 2014/Oct 2016)                    
    • Track dispersion plots and density diagrams for monthly usage for both conv SID and RNAV SID (Nov 2014/Nov 2016)            

     Track dispersion diagrams portray each aircraft track on a map, based on radar data. Tracks are overlaid upon each other, such that if many tracks are overlaid on top of each other, individual tracks may no longer be visible. They are useful for illustrating the dispersion of the traffic pattern, but are not as useful for determining the density/concentration of tracks.

    Track density diagrams portray the concentration of flight tracks using a colour code to indicate differing concentrations of flight tracks. They are sometimes referred to as “heat plot” diagrams. Whilst they can be used to illustrate traffic dispersion, they are most useful for illustrating if traffic is concentrated along a route or over a geographic location. Depending on the key used for portraying track concentration, individual tracks towards the outer limits of the dispersion may not be visible on the diagram.

  • Data provided from February - September 2017

  • Daily track plots

    To show overflight location (February to April only)

    • Daily Track Dispersion Plots (Feb 2017)
    • Daily Track Dispersion Plots (Mar 2017)
    • Daily Track Dispersion Plots (Apr 2017) 

    Gate analysis

    At the railway line (St Albans to Harpenden) and Sandridge to show a comparison of lateral and vertical profiles of departures before and after the change.

    • Gate analysis Feb - Sep 2017           

     

    Monthly track dispersion plots and track density plots

    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Feb 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Mar 2017
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Apr 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (May 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Jun 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Jul 2017) 
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Aug 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion and Density Plots (Sep 2017)

    These plots show the lateral profile of aircraft over the ground.

    Track dispersion diagrams portray each aircraft track on a map, based on radar data. Tracks are overlaid upon each other, such that if many tracks are overlaid on top of each other, individual tracks may no longer be visible. They are useful for illustrating the dispersion of the traffic pattern, but are not as useful for determining the density/concentration of tracks.

    Track density diagrams portray the concentration of flight tracks using a colour code to indicate differing concentrations of flight tracks. They are sometimes referred to as “heat plot” diagrams. Whilst they can be used to illustrate traffic dispersion, they are most useful for illustrating if traffic is concentrated along a route or over a geographic location. Depending on the key used for portraying track concentration, individual tracks towards the outer limits of the dispersion may not be visible on the diagram.

    Monthly track dispersion plots by aircraft type

    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Feb 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Mar 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Apr 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (May 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Jun 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Jul 2017) 
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Aug 2017)
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Aircraft Type (Sep 2017)

    Monthly track dispersion plots by airline

    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Feb 2017)             
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Mar 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Apr 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (May 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Jun 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Jul 2017)             
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Aug 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots by Airline (Aug 2017)            

    Monthly vertical profiles of departures

    These can be compared with vertical profiles provided in July 2015.

    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Feb 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Mar 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Apr 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (May 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Jun 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Jul 2017)            
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Aug 2017)           
    • Monthly Track Dispersion Plots in Altitude Bands (Sep 2017)            

     

    Complaints data submitted to LLAOL

    • Complaints by postcode (Feb - Sep 2017)    
    • Complaints mapped by postcode (Feb 2017 - Sep 2017)            

    Meteorological data

    To support daily track plots (February to April only).

    • Meteorological data (Feb 2017)
    • Meteorological data (Mar 2017)
    • Meteorological data (Apr 2017) 

    Community noise reports

    • Community Noise Report: South Luton March 2017             
    • Community Noise Report: Sandridge April - June 2017       
  • Feedback survey

    The CAA gathered feedback on both the impacts of the implemented airspace change and the data provided by the sponsor as part of the PIR process. This was done through a survey through which any stakeholder could provide feedback that it wanted the CAA to consider when carrying out the PIR. The feedback survey closed at 1700 on Monday 2 July 2018. This feedback will be analysed and covered in a section within the PIR final report. 

    Post implementation review conclusion

    The CAA has completed the Post Implementation Review (PIR). The CAA concludes that following the implementation and operation of the RNAV-1 SIDs via Brookmans Park and a review of the PIR data by the CAA, the impacts of the change are as expected, and as portrayed in the CAA decision of 13 August 2015. The CAA has, however, noted that some radar vectoring is occurring before the St Albans to Harpenden railway line. As a result of this review, the CAA has made two recommendations to the sponsor which are detailed in the report.

    In respect of the change proposal to introduce Runway 26 RNAV-1 SIDs via Brookmans Park, the CAA confirms that no modification of the RNAV-1 departure designs is required by LLAOL.

    Upon publication of the PIR report (CAP1882), the process in respect of this change is concluded and the change is confirmed.

    Publication of our report

    • CAP1882 - Report of the CAA’s Post Implementation Review of London Luton Airport’s Airspace Change Proposal - Runway 26 Brookmans Park RNAV-1 Standard Instrument Departure Procedures

    • Annex A London Luton Airport PIR requirements and data provided
    • Annex B London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL) Assessment
    • Annex C London Luton Airport Runway 26 Brookmans Park RNAV-1 SID Track Analysis Review
    • Annex D CAA analysis of complaint data from non-aviation stakeholders
    • Annex E SurveyMonkey Analysis
    • Annex F LLAOL Flt-RPT-003-17 South Luton Community Noise report V1
    • Annex G LLAOL Flt-RPT-004-17 Sandridge Community Noise report V1
    • Annex H July 2015 vertical plot track diagram comparison with July 2016
    • Annex J August 2014 track dispersion and density plot comparison with March 2017 and August 2017
    • Annex K July 2015 vertical plot track diagram comparison with August 2017
    • Annex L Complaint data map
    • Annex M  Complaint data map (with hand-drawn locations)

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