asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether Aer Lingus and Aer Linte will consider rerouting flights to and from Dublin Airport to avoid overflying built-up areas of the city.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Re-Routing of Dublin Airport Flights.
65.
The routing of the flights to and from Dublin Airport is dictated by runway orientation, location of navigational and landing aids, the convergence of the principal routes on the east coast and the relatively close proximity of two military aerodromes at Baldonnel and Gormanston. As far as possible, the air companies avoid flying over built-up areas but there are many occasions on which it is necessary to do so.
There are statutory regulations as regards minimum flying altitudes over built-up areas with which all aircraft using Dublin Airport must comply.
Would the Minister ask Aer Lingus and other air companies to consider the feasibility of striking out to sea and flying south along the coast rather than flying perennially over the built-up areas, which, I suggest to the Minister, does constitute a real hardship on old people, invalids and others who are house-bound; not to speak of the ordinary citizen?
The air companies are given instructions and go as far as they can to avoid excessive noise. The arrangements for their rate of climb and other technical matters are taken into account and every effort is made to avoid excessive noise but it is unavoidable in certain circumstances. For example, the lengthening of the main runway causes a greater number of flights to proceed over the Whitehall area than is usually the case. When the construction is completed, the noise will diminish.