Plan announced to tackle noise pollution at Heathrow Airport

The amount of noise pollution that residents close to Heathrow Airport have to endure could be reduced if aircraft were to land at a steeper angle.

That's the view of Richard Deakin, chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), who has also suggested that if this was put in place, the height of aircraft passing over some southwest London suburbs could double.

This, in turn, would help reduce the noise levels such residents are exposed to and qualm locals' anger.

Indeed, Emirates believes that if its planes were to descend at a steeper angle, then noise could be reduced by between 15 and 20 per cent.

Currently, Mr Deaking said in an interview with the Sunday Times, NATS is working on increasing planes' approach angles to 5.5 degrees, this is compared to the usual angle of three degrees.

This involves flying at around 1,600 feet as they pass over the suburb of Richmond, however if changes were made then planes could theoretically travel at closer to 3,000 feet, and reduce noise in the process.

Mr Deakin, who gave evidence to the Transport Select Committee on Monday of this week about runway capacity in the South East, says the steeper descent would not increase noise levels for those in the immediate suburbs of the airport.

What's more, he claims, such a system is already in place at London City Airport.

The suggestions come after proposals were aired in the summer about increasing Heathrow's runway capacity and also after a poll in November found that noise pollution around the airport is getting worse.

Indeed, within the survey, three quarters of Hammersmith and Fulham residents said aircraft noise had affected them more since BAA relaxed its runway operations.

At the time, councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, Hammersmith and Fulham Council's cabinet member for transport and technical services, said: "A clear majority of people who responded to our poll have noticed more aircraft noise due to the relaxing of rules at Heathrow."

"If BAA thought this trial was a foot in the door to get more flights into the airport - and over our heads - they need to know that we will fight them all the way."