Major Step Forward for Heathrow’s Third Runway
Plans for a new northwest runway at
London’s Heathrow Airport took a major
step forward when the UK government
recommended the scheme as part of
its proposed airports national policy
statement. The announcement was made
in the House of Commons by Transport
Secretary Chris Grayling on June 5. The
proposal will now be voted on by MPs
within the next month and if it’s given the
green light, the £14bn runway could be
completed by 2026.
In a government statement issued
on June 5, Grayling said: “Expansion at
Heathrow presents a unique opportunity
to deliver a multibillion pound boost to our
economy, strengthen our global links and
maintain our position as a world leader
in aviation. As we leave the EU, the UK
must remain one of the world’s best-
connected and outward-looking countriesand a third runway at Heathrow is the best
option to deliver this.
“We have listened to views through our
consultations and will ensure a world-class
package of measures to help any local
communities affected by the expansion.”
Speaking in the House of Commons,
Grayling also said: “The time for action
is now. Heathrow is already full and the
evidence shows the remaining London
airports won’t be far behind. Despite being
the busiest two-runway airport in the world,
Heathrow’s capacity constraints mean it
is falling behind its global competitors –
impacting the UK’s economy and global
trading opportunities.”
Under the proposal, the government
says the expansion “will be delivered in a
cost-efficient and sustainable way, with a
comprehensive package of measures to
support affected communities and protectthe environment. These are supported by
plans for a 6hr 30min scheduled night ight
ban and noise restrictions, which will be
legally enforceable.”
The Parliamentary vote will be a major
milestone for Heathrow expansion and if
successful will set the policy framework for
Heathrow’s northwest runway application.
The airport is currently preparing to hold
a second public consultation on its plans
before submitting a development consent
application to the planning inspectorate,
kick-starting an 18-month approval process.
Opponents to the expansion, which has
been under debate for two decades, say air
and noise pollution will be greatly increased
and there will be an overall negative
effect on the environment if the proposals
are given the go-ahead. There are also
concerns about traffic congestion in the
Heathrow area.Just before 8pm on June 6, a quartet of
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings touched
down at their new home at RAF Marham
in Norfolk. The jets are assigned to the
newly re-formed 617 Sqn and had own
in from MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina,
where Britain has more of the ghters and
150 personnel in training. The four new
arrivals have the serial numbers ZM145,
ZM146, ZM147 and ZM148.
The rst of the UK’s next-generation
jets have arrived two months earlier than
planned in a major milestone for the
RAF and the Royal Navy. More are due
later this year, and there is an overall plan to
procure 138 examples.
The F-35Bs’ arrival in the UK ahead of
schedule means the support staff will be
able to get a head start in preparing the
aircraft ready for operational service at the
end of this year. Around £550m has been
invested in Marham as part of a majorprogramme to bring the base up the required
standard to house the new type. The station
has seen an upgrade in facilities, resurfaced
runways and the addition of new landing
pads to accommodate the F-35’s ability to
land vertically.The Lightning is the rst RAF aircraft to
combine stealth technology with supersonic
speeds and the ability to conduct short
take-offs and vertical landings. It will
be jointly operated by the RAF and the
Royal Navy from land and from Britain’s
new aircraft carriers. The rst landing of
the F-35B on HMS Queen Elizabeth will
take place this autumn.
Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Sir
Stephen Hillier, said: “In the RAF’s
centenary year, it’s great to see the most
advanced and dynamic ghter jet in our
history arrive today at Marham – and
with the modern Dambusters in the cockpit,
this homecoming truly feels like an historic
moment in British airpower. If you can’t see
us coming, you won’t be able to stop us,
so with its stealth and other world-beating
technologies the F-35 Lightning takes the
RAF and Royal Navy to a whole a new level
of capability.”The four F-35Bs in UK airspace on June 6.
Crown Copyright 2018One of the new jets landing vertically at
Marham. Crown Copyright 2018F-35s Arrive at RAF Marham
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