November 2025 Newsletter
1 Trial of new approach to runway 03
The airport continues to move forward with its plans to allow aircraft to land on Runway 03 from the south in certain weather conditions by using an approach using instruments (currently just visual). This involves some planes flying from the north, approaching the east of the runway before flying west across, then turning south, anticlockwise to land at the southern of the runway (Runway 03). This should reduce the number of planes flying over Petts Wood, Crofton and Locksbottom. On 19th September the first live validation of this “radius to fix approach” was made by a Lear 75 jet. The airport has now submitted a validation report to the CAA. When the CAA is content, the airport will be able to submit an amendment to the AIP (Aeronautical Information Publications). The airport still hopes to commence the full trial on 13th November 2025.
2 Flight numbers
Flight movements (as reported by the airport, and unverified) have fallen for the third consecutive year. June and July movements (peak months) were at their lowest levels since the pandemic.
3 Bombardier expansion
A massive new hangar is being built at the airport. This is Bombardier’s new European paint facility at the airport. It will be one of the largest such facilities in Europe and is expected to be operational by July 2026. It will be able to accommodate more and larger aircraft.
4 Cllr Christopher Marlow
For over two years, Cllr Marlow, as the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Commissioning and Contract Management, has been leading the council’s efforts to renegotiate the Noise Action Plan (NAP) with the airport. He assured us, and councillors, that progress was being made. Earlier this month we learnt that Cllr Marlow had switched political parties from Conservatives to Reform. As he held his positions on the council from being a Conservative councillor, he has now had to relinquish all those roles. We are unaware if he was able to make any progress with the airport in striking a fairer deal for residents. We are also unaware of who will pick up his roles, particularly in relation to the NAP negotiation. We will continue to monitor the situation.
5 ACC effectiveness
As previously reported, by law, all airports are required to have an Airport Consultative Committee (ACC). Under Department for Transport guidance the chairman of an ACC should be independent of the airport. BHAL choose to ignore this guidance, instead having a chairman who has personal and business interests with the airport and its owners. In our view, this significantly weakens the purpose and effectiveness of the committee. We have raised this issue with the MPs for Orpington and Bromley & Biggin Hill – without an effective response.
6 Complaints
There has been an increasing number of noise complaints from Petts Wood and Chislehurst residents raised with the airport. It is not immediately clear what is driving this. The airport has made promises to improve the noise complaints process and are working with representatives of the Keston Village and Crofton Resident Associations. Whilst this work is ongoing, it is disappointing to note that complaints can still take up to 10 months to get a Stage 5 letter from the airport, and that the airport chooses to class people as “Vexatious” even when not following its own procedures.
7 Meeting of the LBB Executive Resources & Contracts PDS (ERCPDS)
We note that the next meeting of the ERCPDS (where Biggin Hill airport is on the agenda) is 24 November. We have no information what might be discussed, but please keep this date free in your diaries for possible attendance by FPW supporters.
Thanks for your continued support. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do get in touch.
Kind regards
Flightpath Watch