New results show 44% of helicopters 'off-route' in London : Kramer

11.54.06am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 19th Feb 2007

Preliminary findings show that 44% of helicopters in London deviate from designated routes. This is the result of a one-day study carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services following a debate in Parliament called by Susan Kramer MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston .

The findings, the first of their kind, showed 36 out of 82 helicopters monitored went 'off-route'.

Susan Kramer MP said:

"I'm pleased that the Government followed up on our concerns expressed in the debate and that a much more detailed study will follow.

"But these results confirm what residents on the ground have told us. Helicopters are flying across residential areas instead of along the Thames and are really disrupting communities with their noise.

"Londoners, already have to contend with endless noise from planes damaging their quality of life and now helicopters are adding to the misery.

"The Government must make it mandatory to for helicopters to follow routes which have the least impact on Londoners and ensure that there is mechanism is in place to enforce this.

"Flying off route should be an exception reserved only for emergencies.

"We also need the Government to follow up on its promise to give Londoners a proper way to complain."