The successful conclusion of the outline planning permission discussions opens an important and exciting chapter in the development of the airport.

You will doubtlessly be aware that positive envi-ronmental considerations are high on the list of priorities to ensure that our “good neighbour” pol-icy remains a key element of our development. This is in everyone best interest. One aspect of the approval is the obligation, with immediate ef-fect, to restrict the use of runway 06/24 during the night period. This is defined as between the hours of 2330-0600 hour local.

Acceptance of the Section 106 Planning Agree-ment, Schedule 5.13, requires that:
“the Airport Company undertakes not to permit any aircraft to land or takeoff on the Runway 06/24 during the Night period except in emer-gency circumstances including the circumstances set out in paragraph 4 of the current Night Flying Policy”.

This took effect upon the grant of Outline Planning Permission which was 3 July 1996. However, it is a moderate extension to the policy to practically mitigate the effect of aircraft noise during the night period and is generally in line with the Night Noise Policy.

The exemptions referred to contained in the Night Noise Policy are included below for completeness:

“Night Flying Policy Para 4 Exemptions from Restrictions
a) Delays to aircraft that are likely to lead to se-rious congestion at the airport or serious hardship or suffering to passengers or ani-mals.
b) Delays to aircraft resulting from widespread and prolonged disruption to air traffic.
c) Aircraft diversions that have been brought about by changes in weather conditions at the original destination airport or an inflight emergency.
d) Aircraft diverting because of night flying re-strictions at other airports are not exempt from the provisions of this policy.
e) Aircraft on medical evacuation or mercy flights where there is  a danger to life or health, human or animal”.

In general terms the restriction does not affect the justified use of the runway for operational safety reasons but controls use, reducing to a minimum the environmental impact of the runway during the night.

1. INTRODUCTION. Birmingham International Airport Ltd is committed to ameliorate the noise impact of aircraft operations on the community and recognises that aircraft operating at night can cause disturbance to our neighbours. Birmingham International Airport is not designated by the De-partment of Transport as requiring a night flying policy and BIA has introduced a policy voluntarily. The policy will apply to aircraft operations during the night period and its operation will be subject to regular review by Birmingham International Airport Ltd, the Airport Consultative Committee through its Aircraft Operations Working Group, Executive Members of the BIA Scheduling Committee and IATA. The terms of this policy are effective from 31st March 1996 until 25th October 1997.
All times are local times.

2. AIRCRAFT CATEGORIES.
EXEMPT AIRCRAFT
Based on aircraft with a noise classification of less than 90 EPNdB during landing or take-off.

GROUP A. Based on aircraft with a noise classifi-cation of more than 90 EPNdB but less than 96 EPNdB during landing or take-off.
GROUP B. Based on aircraft with a noise classifi-cation of more than 96 EPNdB during landing or take-off.
 

3. NIGHT PERIOD MOVEMENTS, 2300 TO 0600 (0800 SUNDAYS).
a) EXEMPT AIRCRAFT: No restrictions on movements.
b) GROUP A ATM’s, Summer 650 and Winter 325.
c) GROUP B. Unless qualifying for exemption under par. 4, below aircraft in this group may not:
i) Be scheduled to take-off or land during the period 2300 to 0600 (to 0800 on Sun-days).
ii) Take-off in the period 2300 to 0600 (to 0800 on Sundays), except in the period 2300 to 2339 where:
a) It was scheduled to take off prior to 2300, and
b) the take-off was delayed for reasons beyond the control of the aircraft opera-tor, and
c) the airport authority has not given notice to the operator precluding take-off.
d) The two night flying seasons are defined as:
i) Summer Season, from April to October as advised by the Scheduling Committee (presently in accordance with the change between UTC and BST)
ii) Winter Season, from November to March as advised by the Scheduling Committee (presently in accordance with the change between BST and UTC)

4. EXEMPTION FROM RESTRICTIONS. The following circumstances allow exemption and are subject to approval by the BIA Operations Duty Manager.

a) Delays to aircraft that are likely to lead to se-rious congestion at the airport or serious hardship or suffering to passengers or ani-mals.
b) Delays to aircraft resulting from widespread and prolonged disruption to air traffic.
c) Aircraft diversions that have been brought about by changes in weather conditions at the original destination airport or an in-flight emergency.
d) Aircraft diverting because of night flying re-strictions at other airports are not exempt from the provisions of this policy
e) Aircraft on medical evacuation or mercy flights where there is danger to life or health, human or animal.
5. NIGHT NOISE VIOLATION LEVEL AND CHARGES SCHEME. There are 3 Noise Monitor-ing Microphones located along the extended cen-treline of runway 15/33 in each direction, the cen-tre monitor for each group of 3 is at a distance of 6,5 kilometres from “start of roll”. A noise violation occurs when the noise level of 89 dB(A) - 102 EPNdB is exceeded at the noise monitor posi-tioned at 6,5 km from the start of roll during the period 2300 - 0600 (0800 on Sundays). In this event, a surcharge equivalent to a runway charge will be levied against the operator.

6. CONDITIONS.
a) The only operators permitted to arrange take-off and landings of aircraft during the night period are those that have made appli-cation to and have received clearance for their operations from Airport Co-ordination Ltd.
b) The Operations Duty Manager will permit a take-off or landing by an aircraft at short no-tice only upon advance receipt of a request from a Birmingham based handling agent in-dicating that the proposed movement is to count against the Allocation.
c) Any take-off or landing in an emergency consistent with preventing danger to life or health will not count against the operator’s allocation.

7. AIRCRAFT TYPE CATEGORY. Aircraft are classified according to noise certification data, ac-count being taken if a specific aircraft type is op-erated at less than its permitted maximum weight where this leads to the use of power settings which reduce noise disturbance on the surround-ing area. Set out in the table below are the types of aircraft permitted to operate at Birmingham In-ternational Airport within the night restricted hours. It should be noted that some aircraft are classified differently for take-off or landing.

AIRCRAFT ARRIVALS DEPARTURES
B757-200 Exempt Exempt
B767-200/300 Exempt Exempt
MD80/83/87 Exempt A
 

 The Airport Authority wishes to inform those who are concerned that RWY 07L/25R will be closed due to works from August, 1st 1996 at 02:00 UTC till September, 5th 1996 at 22:00 UTC.

These works will be carried out without any inter-ruption H24 and 7/7.

The preferential runway system in use during this period will be:

between 04:00 and 20:00 UTC:
RWY 02 for landing and take-off.
RWY 07R for take-off at 3 different take-off positions.

between 20:00 and 04:00 UTC:
RWY 25L for landing
RWY 20 for take-off.
Take-off on RWY 25L will be possible if neces-sary between 22:00 and 04:00 UTC.

if the meteo conditions mentioned in AIP RAC 4-7-OC concerning the surface wind prevail (cross wind of max. 15 kts or tailwind of max. 8 kts for dry runways, cross wind of max. 10 kts or tailwind of max. 5 kts for wet runways) otherwise another runway will be selected.

Please note:

(1) declared distances for take-off  (cfr. AIP AGA 2-3-2-A, AGA 2-3-3 and AGA 2-3-4)
RWY 02 TORA = 2985 m (day) and 2820 m (night)
RWY 20 TORA = 2985 m (day) and 2820 m (night)
RWY 25L TORA = 3211 m (only night op-erations between 22:00 and 04:00 UTC)
RWY 07R TORA = 2624 m (line-up PSN 1) and 2341 m (line-up PSN 2)

(2) a new “line-up position Heavy” will be installed on RWY 07R at 194 m from threshold (TORA = 2891 m) and will be published by Notam class 1.

(3) NO take-off from RWY 25L will be allowed between 04:00 and 22:00 UTC.

(4) the following Notams AO 604/96, AO 606/96 and AO 607/96 have already been published on June, 27th 1996:

NOTAMN AO 604/96
A) EBBR
B) 9608010200
C) 9609052200
E) RWY 07L/25R closed due to WIP

NOTAMR AO 606/96
A) EBBR
B) 9608010400
C) 9609052200
D) Daily 0400/2200
E) RWY 25L not available for take-off

NOTAMN AO 607/96
A) EBBR
B) 9608010200
C) 9609052200
E) ILS training, proficiency checks and visual circuits not allowed.

(5) access to apron 9 (Brucargo) and apron 10 will always be possible. During the first period of the works (approximately 1 week) traffic will have to proceed via TWY’s B6 and A6. After this period traffic has to reach apron 9 and apron 10 via TWY’s OUTER 1, Pi and A7.

MIL. Apron, apron 10, apron 11, apron 12 and apron 13 will always be accessible via TWY A1.

Others TWY’s A3, A5, B2, B3, B4, B5 and B7 will be closed during the whole duration of the works.

The Airport Authority apologies for the inconven-ience you may have during this period.