Too close for our comfort

THEY can almost wave to the pilot as planes swoop in over the chimney pots of their homes in an Eastleigh town centre terrace.

And the hand waves from residents in Campbell Road could be on the increase as Southampton International Airport gets busier and passenger figures soar.

September's passenger figures increased by 18.9 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year. Last month 154,400 passengers travelled through the airport.

The latest phase in the airport's soaraway growth came yesterday when Air Berlin launched a new route.

The three flights per week service to Paderborn in Germany may be the first of several routes launched by the low-cost carrier in Southampton.

Pensioners Edna and Ronald Drayton, who have lived in Campbell Road for 44 years, say that they have noticed more planes flying low over their rooftops as flights have increased.

Mrs Drayton 74, told the Daily Echo: "They fly between our chimneys - often low enough to see the pilots.

"We have lived in this house for many years and enjoyed seeing different planes coming in and out.

"But now it is very frightening, especially the very large planes that are coming in to land over the house."

Mrs Drayton added: "We have nothing against the airport and we use it to fly off on package holidays. But our concern is the safety angle when planes are flying in so low over a residential area."

Mr Drayton, 75, said: "If one of these planes was to touch the roof it would be a disaster. The railway works is also close by.

"We have got used to the noise and smell from the aircraft but we would like assurances about safety when planes fly in so low."

The couple said they would like to see the planes re-routed to take them away from the houses.

Campbell Road resident Noel Burnett, who moved to the area about three years ago, said: "You get used to the aircraft but they do come in very low. I believe that I might have lost a couple of tiles due to the vibration from a plane."

A spokesman for Southampton International Airport said: "Safety and security is our first priority at all times.

"Southampton Airport is licensed and audited by the Civic Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA monitors our activities.

"The level of departing and arriving aircraft as they fly over Campbell Road, Eastleigh, has not changed recently.

"We are always happy to hear the comments of our neighbours. We note Mr and Mrs Drayton's remarks and will include them in our continued analysis of aircraft routes."

But how long the Draytons will be waving to the pilot might depend on the findings which are about to be unveiled of the airport's summer trials.

Southampton International Airport will next month reveal the results of an experiment which has involved using alternative take off and landing procedures. They have been introduced in a bid to clip the wings of noisy aircraft.

The move followed complaints from local residents who claimed that their ear drums have been given a battering as passenger figures have soared.

Scientific analysis has been carried out during the trials. Data has been gathered from six noise monitors which have been deployed underneath the main arrivals and departure routes.

One thousand telephone surveys have been carried out by an independent market research company as well as getting feedback and comments from local people.

Armed with all these facts and figures the airport's technical working group will be presenting its findings at an airport "summit" on November 19.

Representatives from a wide cross section of the community will be getting round the table with airport chiefs for the third community and stakeholder conference.

The get-together is aimed at drawing together everyone whose lives are touched by the airport.

Explaining what would happen after the findings, the airport's operations director Joan Fletcher said: "We will have to look at the options which will benefit the community."

But any permanent changes to take off and landing patterns could take some time to take off.

Proposals would have to go out to public consultation and this would involve local authorities in the area around the airport.

Pensioners Tony and Sylvia Percy, whose St Helena Gardens, Townhill Park home is under the flight path will be hoping that the final outcome will bring some peace to their lives.

Earlier this month Mrs Percy, who is a member of the Townhill Park Residents' Association and the area's community action area forum, told the Daily Echo of how planes flying over their home had blighted their quality of life.

She said they had to put up with a deafening noise from planes and could often smell the aviation fuel.

Mrs Percy said: "This summer we could not even sit in our back gardens or open a window because it was so loud."

Airport chiefs have hinted that there could be further trials next summer as they strive to achieve that harmony with their neighbours.