FURTHER options are being considered over the future of aircraft flightpaths in the Stansted area.

Analysis continues of the feedback to consultation carried out by NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic management company, on proposals to redraw the aircraft route map across a large area of south-east England.

Following publication in July of the Initial Feedback Report on Terminal Control North: Proposed Changes to Airspace, the design, as proposed in the consultation, has undergone review in light of the feedback received. That work is continuing and when it has progressed a further feedback report will be published.

Stansted departures in the area of Bishop’s Stortford and Saffron Walden is one area that continues to be investigated along with the location of, and procedures for, arrival routes/holds for Luton, Stansted and London City.

If the current work leads to proposed options that are significantly different from those contained in the consultation, or from the current situation, there may be a need for further consultation.

Head of Airspace Development Pete Whysall said: “In the consultation we said no changes would be implemented before March 2009; that timescale assumed that we would be in a position to submit an Airspace Change Proposal to the CAA this month, which is no longer the case given the feedback evaluation which is still underway.

“We have always been clear that we will take as long as is necessary to give full consideration to the feedback from the consultation and will undertake further consultation if required.”

This was the biggest-ever consultation by NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic management company, on changes which represent the first fundamental overhaul in several decades for this area of airspace.

The proposed changes were designed to reduce delay whilst maintaining safety and improving environmental performance.