It has been a busy few days for government ministers in the UK who have visited Aberdeen and London Stansted airports.
In Scotland, Aberdeen International Airport has secured approval from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority for its Airspace Change Proposal (ACP), with the milestone marked during a visit by the Aviation Minister, Keir Mather.
The decision enables Aberdeen International Airport to move forward with a series of approved changes designed to support the wider modernisation of UK airspace through the introduction of satellite-based navigation technology.
Robert Paterson, the airport’s operations director, said: “Securing approval from the CAA is a significant milestone for Aberdeen International Airport and marks the culmination of almost six years of technical development, assessment and engagement.”
“The approved procedures will provide additional operational resilience and support airline training requirements while maintaining our existing departure procedures and helicopter route structure. With approval now in place, our focus turns to preparing for implementation later this year.”
Keir Mather, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Logistics, said: “It was great to visit Aberdeen Airport and see the major progress being made in modernising Scotland’s airspace. This work is supporting more reliable, more direct flights for passengers, sustainable offshore operations, greater connectivity and stronger economic growth.
“We’re overhauling some of the UK’s busiest highways in the sky to pave the way for greener and quieter aircraft of the future.”
During the visit, the Minister toured the CHC Helicopter facilities at the airport and met with staff to hear what the changes will mean in practice for helicopter operations supporting the UK’s offshore energy sector, and to discuss the wider economic contribution of helicopter services.
Meanwhile in England, London Stansted, Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, made a flying visit to see first-hand how the airport’s transformation programme will boost the role it plays driving trade, investment and tourism for London and the East of England.
During the visit the Secretary of State toured the airport’s recently enlarged security hall that features 17 latest technology scanners that allows passengers to leave liquids and large electrical items in hand luggage, as well as receiving an update on the construction of airport’s new skylink walkways.
Stansted has welcomed a record-breaking number of passengers this year, and saw it achieve its busiest ever flying day this summer with over 700 aircraft movements.
The visit concluded at the airport’s new on-site solar farm, the only one of its kind at a London airport.
Alexander said: “We support airport expansion where it balances economic growth with climate, noise and air quality obligations.
“I’m pleased to see Stansted’s plans to grow passenger numbers responsibly – boosting connectivity, jobs and growth across the East of England, while meeting environmental commitments.”
Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to London Stansted and join us to see first-hand the progress we are making in delivering our ambitious investment plans to create an airport ready for the future and offer an even greater choice of destinations for our passengers.”
