Technical Notes 2022, Issue 04 - Glasgow Airport Airspace Change Proposal

Glasgow Airport, along with other airports in Scotland, is required by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to review the departure and arrival routes and surrounding airspace of the airport. The airspace modernisation programme represents the biggest change in how the aviation industry manages its airspace in over 50 years. It will enable better management of the airspace around airports, without compromising on safety, delivering a number of potential benefits such as environmental improvements, noise management and minimising the amount of time aircraft queue, both in the air and on the ground.

Glasgow Airport has already completed Stage 1 of the ACP process, which focused on establishing the Design Principles used to consider and compare all airspace design options, and has now commenced Stage 2. More information on Stage 1 can be found via the CAA’s Airspace Change Portal. Stage 2 involves developing a comprehensive list of route options, which must align with the Airport’s Design Principles. The process for developing these options was presented at Stakeholder Briefing Sessions, which was attended by a member of the Land Planning Policy team on behalf of the Council on 02/12/21. Slides from this briefing session can be viewed on the Glasgow Airport engagement hub. This includes a number of examples from the comprehensive list of route options. At this stage, stakeholders are being requested to give feedback on the approach to developing the route options and if this approach aligns with the Design Principles. The deadline for feedback is Monday 10th January 2022. Comments on the actual route options are not being sought at this time.

The comprehensive list of route options will then be taken forward to the Design Principle Evaluation, where Glasgow Airport will assess each option to understand whether it has met, partially met, or not met the Design Principles. The outcome of the Design Principle Evaluation will likely be a shortlist of options.

The wider public will then be informed of the proposals at Stage 3, which will include a full public consultation. Glasgow Airport is expecting the public consultation to take place in Q1-Q2 2023. Further information on the overall process can be viewed on a dedicated consultation webpage hosted by Glasgow Airport website which includes a Frequently Asked Questions section. A summary diagram of the overall process is shown below.

Action Taken:

Officers in the Land Planning Policy Team responded to work on the Stage 1 Design Principles in 2019 and will now provide feedback on the approach to developing the route options by 10th January 2022. Beyond this, officers will continue to monitor progress on the Design Principle Evaluation and any information on the comprehensive list of route options. Specific dates for the publication of route options are not known at this stage.

Once these route options are published, officers will inform Members and assess any potential implications for East Dunbartonshire as part of the ongoing consultation process. It is anticipated that at this stage that a decision on the Council’s response will be required by Council or relevant Committee.