Modernising flight routes in Jersey

Ports of Jersey Air Navigation services are modernising Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures and redesigning the Island’s standard departure and arrival routes to improve efficiency and safety, and to reduce CO2 emissions.

This reduction in emissions aligns with the Ports Planet and People Plan, which commits the organisation to playing a leading role in developing a sustainable future for our Island.

SIDs and STARs

The Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Instrument Arrivals (STARs) are specific paths that aircraft follow when departing from, or arriving in, Jersey and when linking up with the wider airspace.

The new procedures will make use of modern, satellite-based navigational aids, which allow more direct routing. This is more efficient than traditional procedures, which rely on navigational aids on the ground that can often be overflown by aircraft, potentially adding unnecessary mileage and noise disturbance.

A total of 17 SIDs and 15 STARs have been reviewed and modernised, including the most popular routes, like the north-east departure route to the London sector. This process has also enabled Jersey ATC to remove two SIDs and two STARs, which has reduced the project costs.

Safety and efficiency

Air Traffic Controller and Airspace Development Manager, Richard Price, said that the redesigned routings were positive changes which would improve predictability, safety and efficiency: “The departure procedures will reduce the time aircraft need to fly over the Island, and as the current noise abatement procedures will remain unchanged, Islanders may notice a reduction in aircraft noise.

“The new routes will mean less disruption and noise pollution across the Channel Islands for those who live below the new flight paths, especially the residents of Guernsey and Alderney.

“The new STARs will seamlessly link into the Instrument Approach procedures, bringing greater predictability for both controllers and pilots. The STARs will also help with approach planning, making better use of modern aircraft equipment.

“For pilots, these changes should reduce their cockpit workload and give predictability to routings and their climb and descent profiles. The more efficient climb and continuous descent operations will reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and noise, all of which are important to today’s airlines. Our estimates show that one of our operators could save approximately 1.5% in fuel costs with these new procedures.”

Ports Planet and People Plan

Air Traffic Controller and Jersey ATC Sustainability Manager, Mike Stephens, said that the reduction in miles flown would contribute towards the Ports’ Planet and People Plan: “Ports of Jersey is committed to supporting our business partners to reduce their carbon emissions, while also promoting sustainable travel for our community.

“Providing connectivity to the Island, we work closely with our airline partners to operate newer, quieter, higher performance, and more efficient aircraft. These new procedures will reduce the track distances flown by aircraft in and out of Jersey Airport and enable more fuel-efficient climb and descent profiles. This will reduce environmental impacts like noise and CO2 emissions.”

Work will be completed this year to validate the new routings, which are then expected to be implemented early next year.