Robin Hood applies for night freight flights permission
08.01.09
Robin Hood Airport has applied to Doncaster Council to have restrictions on night-time freight flights lifted, the Doncaster Free Press reports. The airport has submitted plans to relax the limitations, which they say will create more jobs, make greater use of the site and bring it in line with other airports that transport cargo.
It also wants a ban on noisier aircraft like Boeing 747s - known as QC4s - operating at night withdrawn as airport officials say the current ruling is hampering its efforts to attract a freight operator to set up at the hub. Freight company Fedex snubbed the airport last year because of the restrictions, and instead chose to locate to Manchester.
Freight operations from the airport are currently below its 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 between 23:00 and 07:00, which are more stringent than most other regional airports.
Robin Tudor, spokesman for airport owners Peel, 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 every night. Even by 2016 our estimates are less than two QC4s aircraft using the airport a week.’
The council has 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 will end on January 30 and 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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