Robin Hood Airport applies for freight night flying
08.01.09
Robin Hood Airport has applied to Doncaster Council to lift restrictions on night-time freight flights in a bid to create more jobs, the Doncaster Free Press reports. The airport has submitted plans to relax the limitations, which they say will make greater use of the site and bring it in line with other airports that transport cargo.
It wants a ban on noisier aircraft like Boeing 747s - known as QC4s - operating at night withdrawn as airport officials are concerned the current ruling is hampering efforts to attract a freight operator to set up base at the hub. Freight firm Fedex last year snubbed the airport because of the restrictions, and instead chose to locate to Manchester.
Freight operations from the airport are currently below expectations. Since opening in April 2005 Robin Hood carried around 600 tonnes of cargo annually in its first two years. Bosses say one reason is the restrictions on QC4 planes using Robin Hood between 23:00 and 07:00, which are more stringent than most other regional airports.
Robin Tudor, spokesman for Peel, owners of the airport said current annual noise limit regulations would not be amended if the application was passed. He said: ‘It is about making the airport more competitive so we can attract the key freight carriers who have one or two QC4s in their fleet. We are not talking about QC4 aircraft flying night after night. Even by 2016 our estimates are less than two QC4s aircraft using the airport a week.’
The council has now started a consultation process on the application. Letters have been sent to town and parish councils and residents who have previously objected to the proposals. The consultation period will end on January 30. The application will then go before the planning committee.
Residents can submit views in writing to Robin Hood Airport Consultation, Directorate of Development, Development and Planning, Second floor, Danum House, St. Sepulchre Gate, Doncaster DN1 1UB.
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