Steeper landing angle is quieter and would enable more night flights – and thus no third strip, says Emirates airlineA bitterly contested third runway at Heathrow can be avoided if airlines adopt a new landing approach involving thousands more night flights per year, according to a proposal by one of the airport's fastest growing carriers.Emirates believes that gridlock at the world's busiest international hub will be relieved by introducing a flight technique that gets around strict night noise restrictions.The plan, dubbed the "EcoApproach" by the Dubai-based airline, involves flying into the airport at a steeper angle which, according Emirates, will reduce noise while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the need to stack flights.In a proposal to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the
UK's
aviation regulator, Emirates claims that it will mean "no need for a new runway at Heathrow".Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said the new landing approach would provide an extra four hours of flights and required a £2m investment in a new navigation system at the airport. "For a few million extra pounds you could open Heathrow later at night and earlier in the morning."Heathrow's congestion problems have been eased slightly by the recession but the airport is still operating close to capacity. In January the government gave its blessing to plans for a third runway, which will increase flights from 480,000 a year to 702,000.Under the Emirates proposal, ministers would have to consider introducing "mixed-mode" at the airport, whereby both runways are used for take-off and landing simultaneously in contravention of current limitations.Pressure from the aviation industry and wider business lobby to expand Heathrow without building a new runway is likely to increase with the prospect of an electoral victory next year for the Conservative Party, which has vowed to oppose a third runway."If this third runway does not come off what you have to do is look at ...
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