The main cause of flights over Ealing is the wind blowing from the East.However, the recent NATS proposal to concentrate flights from both runways onto a single flight path won't help; although this is yet to be agreed. Expect the decision in the next few weeks.The more wide-reaching government proposals to abandon the Cranford agreement (allowing easterly take-offs from both North and South runways), combined with moving to alternate mode operation (both runways used all the time) would increase flights by up to 20% within 2 years.The final decision on this is expected at the end of the year, and despite considerable opposition it is likely that the changes will be approved.Therefore, you can expect a considerable increase in flights over Ealing when the wind blows from the East in the near future.And this is even before building the 3rd runway and Terminal 6 at Heathrow which is part of the same consultation, and likely to be agreed at the same time with a plan for completion in 2014; leading to another likely 30% increase in flights, in addition to new landing flight paths over Chiswick, South Ealing, Gunnersbury, Brentford and Boston Manor, and many new take-off flight-paths over Ealing.So I wouldn't expect the flights to get quieter anytime soon, even if the government says that the new generation of planes will be quieter.
Matthew Brady ● 6629d