The proposals see the number of flights increasing from a 2004 base of 44 flights a day (2.6 per hour) to 58 flights a day (3.4 per hour) in 2009 and 70 fpd (4.1 ph) in 2014. We will, however be on the main flight path for all flights as opposed to an unspecified proportion of these. Also, these averages are worked out over 17 hours; if the runway is only used 36% of this time, then we could see the actual plane numbers increase to 12 fph when in use. IF the flights are currently split 50-50 between the two easterly routes, this represents a tripling of flights overhead.

We are already in the red zone, so the lowest planes will not be lower than they are at present; indeed they may be slightly higher as we will be further from the airport due to the wider turn... However, these changes are being made to increase the number of jets which use City airport. The noise tables give a range of 57-72 dB(A) for an arrival at these heights, which is "moderately loud" (equivalent to a hoover or a car passing close by at motorway speeds). A heavy diesel lorry at 25 mile per hour, 23 ft away is rated 85db(A) which is twice as loud.

It would seem as if they have pushed all the City traffic south to make way for the Stansted Easterly arrivals (which we will also be subjected to occasionally)