Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the proportionate increase in airfield crash risk within a 10km radius of Heathrow under the Heathrow north west runway expansion proposal consulted on in the draft National Policy Statement.

The revised draft Airports National Policy Statement is clear that any potential scheme at Heathrow must comply with the UK’s civil aviation safety regime, regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). A detailed safety assessment will be required as part of the CAA’s airspace change process. This assessment includes the air traffic safety risks associated with the proposed airspace design and whether the level of air traffic control resource and infrastructure is appropriate to support the change safely.

The Airports Commission did however consider safety as part of their analysis. They asked the Health and Safety Laboratory to conduct analysis of the scale of increase in crash risk associated with the three shortlisted schemes. The Health and Safety Laboratory’s report can be found here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/airports-commission-final-report-operational-efficiency