Last chance to weigh in on proposed changes to Route 4 at London Gatwick
Have your say on airspace modernisation today
Today marks the final day for communities and stakeholders to have their say on the proposed changes to Route 4 at London Gatwick Airport, in a public consultation aimed at modernising airspace navigation.
Feedback on reintroducing satellite-based navigational procedures for Route 4, one of the airport's nine departure routes, will be gathered throughout the day.
Route 4 includes aircraft taking off westerly from Gatwick's main runway, then turning to a northerly direction before proceeding east.
The push to incorporate satellite navigation is necessary as traditional ground-based navigation infrastructure is being phased out across the UK.
The proposal has undergone rigorous work to address previous legal and regulatory challenges, which led to the withdrawal of satellite-based technologies for Route 4 in 2019.
Consultation Details
Community members and stakeholders who wish to participate in the consultation can submit their feedback via the Citizen Space website from now until midnight.
This consultation is the third stage within a structured airspace change process set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under CAP1616 guidance.
The findings from today's submissions will be crucial for refining Route 4's future design, with the final decision heading to the CAA for approval.
The proposed airspace changes align with the UK's nationwide airspace modernisation effort and could provide local benefits such as reduced noise and environmental impacts.
H2 History and Future of Route 4
The introduction of satellite-based navigation to Route 4 mirrors similar updates to other departure routes at Gatwick since 2013.
However, the procedures were withdrawn in 2019 due to legal challenges that have since been addressed in the current proposal.
Airspace modernisation is part of a national mandate requiring UK airports to upgrade their navigation systems to the latest technology.
Route 4's track and traffic dispersion has experienced several shifts over the years, with past changes focused on correcting deviations.
Further exploration of historical adjustments can be found in the CAA's CAP1912 report.
Today is the last chance for residents and stakeholders to contribute their voices to the future of Route 4 before the consultation ends.