Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons it is necessary to install Arrestor Beds at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The installation of the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) Arrestor Beds at RAF Northolt will give the RAF the ability to ensure site containment and safety in the event an aircraft overrunning the runway.
The EMAS Arrestor system, which will be used at RAF Northolt is currently the only product certified for use in the U.K. which has been scientifically modelled and manufactured to ensure arresting capability.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many lorry movements will be required to undertake the runway re-surfacing works at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The amount of lorry movements required to undertake runway re-surfacing works at RAF Northolt is not known. However, all work will be conducted in line with regulatory standards, following government guidelines and approvals.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mechanisms RAF Northolt has in place to manage noise complaints from people under the flight path of places using that airfield.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
RAF Northolt maintains extensive links with local community groups where local concerns can be raised. The station invites local community leaders to six monthly meetings of the Community Liaison Group so it can update them on issues such as infrastructure work or expected unusual military aircraft movements.
Members of the public can contact the station direct by telephone or online and a dedicated officer will investigate their concerns and respond to them.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the runway re-surfacing works at RAF Northolt are to cost up to £45 million when similar re-surfacing works at commercial airports have had significantly lower costs.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The cost for the whole RAF Northolt project is £35 - £45 million. The cost includes all work on site and is directly comparable to similar commercial projects. The cost of the runway re-surfacing cannot be separated out.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of the runway re-surfacing works at RAF Northolt will be.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The cost for the whole RAF Northolt project is £35 - £45 million. The cost includes all work on site and is directly comparable to similar commercial projects. The cost of the runway re-surfacing cannot be separated out.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans for RAF Northolt to apply for a Civil Aviation Authority licence.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Between 2011 and 2013 the Government reviewed a range of options for RAF Northolt, including the potential for disposal or transfer of the aerodrome functions to a civil operator. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned the 2012 Project Ark report. The reference to civil licences in the Project Ark report was in relation to some of these options. Following this review, in April 2013 MOD Ministers took the decision to retain RAF Northolt as a military aerodrome, and other options were not taken forward. Therefore, civil licences were not considered further.
The Project Ark report said that there may be potential to increase civil use on the military aerodrome up to 20,000 movements. However, Ministers took the decision to raise the self-imposed cap on civil movements to 12,000 movements per year. There are no plans to revisit this decision.
Following that April 2013 review decision, the Project Ark report was archived, many of its options remained hypothetical, and it is not an active planning document.
Medium-size airliner type aircraft can be operated at RAF Northolt. Alongside the based BAe 146 military airframes, a number of European allies operate medium-airliner-sized military aircraft into RAF Northolt on military business. However, civil movements remain under strict terms and conditions which specifically limit operating hours and the number of passengers, and exclude Scheduled Commercial Operations. This has the effect of limiting the types of civil aircraft which can operate into RAF Northolt to business aviation flights.
No meetings have been held with commercial airlines about RAF Northolt, but Ministers did in late 2015 and early 2016 correspond twice in reply to the Chief Executive of Flybe, following an unsolicited bid from that airline. This was not considered further. There are no plans to change the strict terms and conditions that limit the number of passengers on civil movements and exclude scheduled flights.
As the planned runway works will see the refurbishment of existing infrastructure for military requirements, and no change of use is planned, there is no requirement for planning permission.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of operating 12,000 commercial flights annually from RAF Northolt.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Between 2011 and 2013 the Government reviewed a range of options for RAF Northolt, including the potential for disposal or transfer of the aerodrome functions to a civil operator. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned the 2012 Project Ark report. The reference to civil licences in the Project Ark report was in relation to some of these options. Following this review, in April 2013 MOD Ministers took the decision to retain RAF Northolt as a military aerodrome, and other options were not taken forward. Therefore, civil licences were not considered further.
The Project Ark report said that there may be potential to increase civil use on the military aerodrome up to 20,000 movements. However, Ministers took the decision to raise the self-imposed cap on civil movements to 12,000 movements per year. There are no plans to revisit this decision.
Following that April 2013 review decision, the Project Ark report was archived, many of its options remained hypothetical, and it is not an active planning document.
Medium-size airliner type aircraft can be operated at RAF Northolt. Alongside the based BAe 146 military airframes, a number of European allies operate medium-airliner-sized military aircraft into RAF Northolt on military business. However, civil movements remain under strict terms and conditions which specifically limit operating hours and the number of passengers, and exclude Scheduled Commercial Operations. This has the effect of limiting the types of civil aircraft which can operate into RAF Northolt to business aviation flights.
No meetings have been held with commercial airlines about RAF Northolt, but Ministers did in late 2015 and early 2016 correspond twice in reply to the Chief Executive of Flybe, following an unsolicited bid from that airline. This was not considered further. There are no plans to change the strict terms and conditions that limit the number of passengers on civil movements and exclude scheduled flights.
As the planned runway works will see the refurbishment of existing infrastructure for military requirements, and no change of use is planned, there is no requirement for planning permission.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings his Department have had with commercial airlines on matters relating to RAF Northolt over the last five years.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Between 2011 and 2013 the Government reviewed a range of options for RAF Northolt, including the potential for disposal or transfer of the aerodrome functions to a civil operator. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned the 2012 Project Ark report. The reference to civil licences in the Project Ark report was in relation to some of these options. Following this review, in April 2013 MOD Ministers took the decision to retain RAF Northolt as a military aerodrome, and other options were not taken forward. Therefore, civil licences were not considered further.
The Project Ark report said that there may be potential to increase civil use on the military aerodrome up to 20,000 movements. However, Ministers took the decision to raise the self-imposed cap on civil movements to 12,000 movements per year. There are no plans to revisit this decision.
Following that April 2013 review decision, the Project Ark report was archived, many of its options remained hypothetical, and it is not an active planning document.
Medium-size airliner type aircraft can be operated at RAF Northolt. Alongside the based BAe 146 military airframes, a number of European allies operate medium-airliner-sized military aircraft into RAF Northolt on military business. However, civil movements remain under strict terms and conditions which specifically limit operating hours and the number of passengers, and exclude Scheduled Commercial Operations. This has the effect of limiting the types of civil aircraft which can operate into RAF Northolt to business aviation flights.
No meetings have been held with commercial airlines about RAF Northolt, but Ministers did in late 2015 and early 2016 correspond twice in reply to the Chief Executive of Flybe, following an unsolicited bid from that airline. This was not considered further. There are no plans to change the strict terms and conditions that limit the number of passengers on civil movements and exclude scheduled flights.
As the planned runway works will see the refurbishment of existing infrastructure for military requirements, and no change of use is planned, there is no requirement for planning permission.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to section 1.25 of the Project Ark report by Ernst and Young of 1 February 2012, whether the runway at RAF Northolt is operationally capable of receiving large commercial aircraft.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Between 2011 and 2013 the Government reviewed a range of options for RAF Northolt, including the potential for disposal or transfer of the aerodrome functions to a civil operator. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned the 2012 Project Ark report. The reference to civil licences in the Project Ark report was in relation to some of these options. Following this review, in April 2013 MOD Ministers took the decision to retain RAF Northolt as a military aerodrome, and other options were not taken forward. Therefore, civil licences were not considered further.
The Project Ark report said that there may be potential to increase civil use on the military aerodrome up to 20,000 movements. However, Ministers took the decision to raise the self-imposed cap on civil movements to 12,000 movements per year. There are no plans to revisit this decision.
Following that April 2013 review decision, the Project Ark report was archived, many of its options remained hypothetical, and it is not an active planning document.
Medium-size airliner type aircraft can be operated at RAF Northolt. Alongside the based BAe 146 military airframes, a number of European allies operate medium-airliner-sized military aircraft into RAF Northolt on military business. However, civil movements remain under strict terms and conditions which specifically limit operating hours and the number of passengers, and exclude Scheduled Commercial Operations. This has the effect of limiting the types of civil aircraft which can operate into RAF Northolt to business aviation flights.
No meetings have been held with commercial airlines about RAF Northolt, but Ministers did in late 2015 and early 2016 correspond twice in reply to the Chief Executive of Flybe, following an unsolicited bid from that airline. This was not considered further. There are no plans to change the strict terms and conditions that limit the number of passengers on civil movements and exclude scheduled flights.
As the planned runway works will see the refurbishment of existing infrastructure for military requirements, and no change of use is planned, there is no requirement for planning permission.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to section 1.24 of the Project Ark report by Ernst and Young of 1 February 2012, for what reasons planning permission has not been sought from the London Borough of Hillingdon for the proposed works at RAF Northolt.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Between 2011 and 2013 the Government reviewed a range of options for RAF Northolt, including the potential for disposal or transfer of the aerodrome functions to a civil operator. As part of this, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) commissioned the 2012 Project Ark report. The reference to civil licences in the Project Ark report was in relation to some of these options. Following this review, in April 2013 MOD Ministers took the decision to retain RAF Northolt as a military aerodrome, and other options were not taken forward. Therefore, civil licences were not considered further.
The Project Ark report said that there may be potential to increase civil use on the military aerodrome up to 20,000 movements. However, Ministers took the decision to raise the self-imposed cap on civil movements to 12,000 movements per year. There are no plans to revisit this decision.
Following that April 2013 review decision, the Project Ark report was archived, many of its options remained hypothetical, and it is not an active planning document.
Medium-size airliner type aircraft can be operated at RAF Northolt. Alongside the based BAe 146 military airframes, a number of European allies operate medium-airliner-sized military aircraft into RAF Northolt on military business. However, civil movements remain under strict terms and conditions which specifically limit operating hours and the number of passengers, and exclude Scheduled Commercial Operations. This has the effect of limiting the types of civil aircraft which can operate into RAF Northolt to business aviation flights.
No meetings have been held with commercial airlines about RAF Northolt, but Ministers did in late 2015 and early 2016 correspond twice in reply to the Chief Executive of Flybe, following an unsolicited bid from that airline. This was not considered further. There are no plans to change the strict terms and conditions that limit the number of passengers on civil movements and exclude scheduled flights.
As the planned runway works will see the refurbishment of existing infrastructure for military requirements, and no change of use is planned, there is no requirement for planning permission.