The CEO of Biggin Hill Airport has insisted he has no plans for it to become Gatwick or Stansted after local campaigners complained about noise from the transport hub.

David Winstanley said he didn’t want to make Biggin Hill a massive airport like its more commercial rivals, and accused campaigners were “scaremongering” by making those claims.

The airport chief also gave his response to complaints about noise to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Biggin Hill Airport has faced scrutiny in recent months over noise of planes from locals, including the pressure group Flightpath Watch.

Mr Winstanley says he has “huge” sympathy for residents and the airport was doing everything it could to address concerns.

He said: “We take noise complaints very seriously and we put a great deal of effort in being a good neighbour which is a lease requirement with our landlord, the London Borough of Bromley.

“I can tell you we take complaints very seriously as I personally respond to every complaint we get.

"We put a lot of effort into managing noise through a noise action plan which was drafted in 2015. We do that through establishment of noise preferential routes and noise sensitive areas around certain locations in close proximity to the airport.

“We also put limits on the noise of aircraft in the early hours of operation and provide guidance and incentives to certain operators to reduce noise.

“What our data is telling us is that the noise levels have not significantly increased in the last five years [when the airport’s hours were extended]. What may have happened during Covid is that a lot of residents were at home and working from home, so they may have noticed the same number of aircraft but noticed it more.”

Responding to claims by its critics that the airport could become the next Gatwick or Stansted – and therefore louder and more disruptive to its neighbours – Mr Winstanley said: “They are scaremongering. It is dangerous on several fronts.

“It’s factually incorrect. The airport will never become a Gatwick or a Stansted. It is not the type of operation that could be sustained at Biggin Hill. [We] will always be a business aviation and general aviation airport.

“What that scaremongering does is it deflects the concentration to improve noise for genuine residents. The vast majority of residents that engage with the airport understand what we are doing to reduce noise.

“In this case, Flightpath Watch are just simply not helping residents. They are also not helping councillors making informed decisions and it’s disappointing they won’t engage with the airport, very disappointing.”

Mr Winstanley said he is confident the airport could deliver an updated noise plan to the council well before the June deadline. 

Flightpath Watch have been contacted for comment.

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