Click here  to see a more detailed diagram of the proposed flightpath. The file is in Adobe PDF format. (To download the Adobe Acrobat Reader, click ).

PAVAN was formed in July 2002 to object to Luton Airport's proposals to re-route some of its flights over Aylesbury Vale. The affected flights would be those arriving at Luton in an easterly wind from the LOREL Stack northeast of Luton.

The current approach is an S shape that, approximately, brings the planes west from the stack, south over Luton, west over Berkhamsted, then doubling back to almost east from Pitstone to the runway.

The replacement approach would see planes coming off the stack in a roughly westerly heading, turning south between Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury and then east from Wingrave towards the runway. This is the route now favoured by Luton and is known as Option 3a.

Should Option 3a go ahead, Luton would be able to fly as low as 3000 feet above the ground  within the pink area. on the map.

What does this mean for the residents of and visitors to Aylesbury Vale?

How many planes are we talking about?

During the summer months, 130 planes a day would land using the Option 3a route at 3-5000 feet above the Vale. At the moment, no large commercial jets fly lower than 6000 feet in this area. Many planes are much higher.

• 130 planes a day is based on current operations. Luton has planning permission to expand by another 25% - which means over 160 planes a day.
• This change allows Luton to expand to its runway capacity.
• Luton's current maximum arrival capacity is 32 aircraft per hour, that's 480 aircraft in a 16 hour day.
• By extending the runway as suggested in the government's 2003 aviation consultation document, this would balloon to 560 planes a day. And a longer runway could accommodate larger, noisier planes!
• Luton has suggested it would like to build another runway, which would mean ONE PLANE LANDING OVER THE VALE EVERY 90 SECONDS
• And if you live in Berkhamsted, don't think you're off the hook - Luton will use both paths when it deems it necessary.

How noisy is noisy?

The simple answer is that if a noise annoys then it's too noisy. When you next hear a plane overhead, particularly when you are woken up at night, imagine what it would be like when the planes are much lower (about 3000 feet lower) and come at you one after the other.

Much more study is needed before a definitive statement could be made. Levels vary depending on the type of aircraft and the load, wind speed and direction, air pressure and cloud cover, and the nature of the surrounding terrain. The picture is further complicated by whether the plane is flying level, turning, or descending on normal or reduced engine power. The apparent noise of an aircraft will always be more intrusive in a rural area owing to lower ambient noise levels. 

What time of day will planes use Option 3a?

There are few restrictions on night flights at Luton Airport, so planes could use Option 3a at any time of the day - or night. So you could have your sleep disturbed, the dawn chorus drowned by jet engines, the smell of the roses overtaken by the smell of kerosene, your morning walk ruined, your afternoon cup of tea interrupted, and your quiet dinner blighted.

Would the planes use Option 3a every day?

Option 3a is being touted as an arrivals route from the LOREL Stack in an easterly wind. Easterly for Luton is defined as just west of North to just east of south (350 - 170). In 2002, the east/west wind split was 33% / 67%. But this is an average for the whole year. In September 2002, the east/west split was 67% / 33%, and in December it was 60% /40%. 

Easterly days tend to be when the sun is shining, winter or summer. In the hot summer of 2003, it was as high as 70%.

Would Option 3a be used for takeoffs?

We've asked Luton Airport this question several times, and each time they have refused to rule out the possibility.