Civil Aviation Authority approves Birmingham Airport flight path changes

The Civil Aviation Authority has approved changes to flight paths at Birmingham Airport in response to its £33 million runway extension.

It comes despite protests by residents in 2014 when trials began seeing planes passing over residential areas like Balsall Common instead of open countryside.

At the time there were complaints by residents that incoming aircraft from the south were lower and noisier - and because of the longer runway the planes were touching down sooner.

Many claimed the noise was so bad it was difficult to have conversation.

A number of options known as 5 and 6 were tried at the time, with the airport settling on option 6, which it has been using for some time.

Today the CAA said:

ITV News Central has spoken to residents in Balsall Heath who say they’re pleased with the ruling by the CAA and that their concerns have been considered.

Speaking earlier this week a spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said it's been working closely with affected residents, particularly in Balsall Common, and say it's been really useful for both parties to reach a compromise and introduce some measures which benefit everyone including a 4000ft 'noise corridor' to minimum noise disruption.

The new longer runway can now accommodate larger aircraft, like the Airbus A380 which started carrying passengers to Dubai for the first time last month.

Read more: Residents fight Birmingham Airport flight path changes

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