14/09/2009
City Airport Rattles Tiles
Fresh doubts have been cast on plans to expand Belfast's urban airport.
An investigation is under way after people living near George Best Belfast City Airport claimed the 'wash' from a low-flying jet smashed roof tiles on a house.
The BBC has reported that residents suffered a major scare.
Katrin Irvine who lives at Parkgate Crescent directly beneath the flight path said she heard a "big bang" at about 1pm on Sunday.
About 30 tiles had come off her roof and landed in several gardens, she said, with a spokesman for the airport responding they "would investigate the report".
"All aircraft approaching the airfield do so in accordance with strict Civil Aviation Authority regulations," a spokesman said.
Today, while there has been no comment forthcoming from the area's MP, First Minister Peter Robinson, the East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA and party leader, Sir Reg Empey said there should be "no expansion of the City Airport following the incident".
Sir Reg (pictured) said someone could have been killed and the airport should not expand any further.
"I think there has to be a balance between the local residents and the airport," he told BBC Radio Ulster this morning.
"Continued expansion, in my view, is incompatible with that balance being maintained. I do think it has got to stay more or less where it is and stop expanding."
See: Local MP 'Joins' Runway Debate
(BMcC/GK)
An investigation is under way after people living near George Best Belfast City Airport claimed the 'wash' from a low-flying jet smashed roof tiles on a house.
The BBC has reported that residents suffered a major scare.
Katrin Irvine who lives at Parkgate Crescent directly beneath the flight path said she heard a "big bang" at about 1pm on Sunday.
About 30 tiles had come off her roof and landed in several gardens, she said, with a spokesman for the airport responding they "would investigate the report".
"All aircraft approaching the airfield do so in accordance with strict Civil Aviation Authority regulations," a spokesman said.
Today, while there has been no comment forthcoming from the area's MP, First Minister Peter Robinson, the East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA and party leader, Sir Reg Empey said there should be "no expansion of the City Airport following the incident".
Sir Reg (pictured) said someone could have been killed and the airport should not expand any further.
"I think there has to be a balance between the local residents and the airport," he told BBC Radio Ulster this morning.
"Continued expansion, in my view, is incompatible with that balance being maintained. I do think it has got to stay more or less where it is and stop expanding."
See: Local MP 'Joins' Runway Debate
(BMcC/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
06 February 2003
bmi to concentrate services at Belfast City
bmi has announced that it is to discontinue its Heathrow service from Belfast International Airport (BIA) and concentrate resources in Belfast City Airport. However, bmi will maintain a presence at BAI as bmibaby will be including Belfast International as a destination to be served from a new UK base to be announced shortly.
bmi to concentrate services at Belfast City
bmi has announced that it is to discontinue its Heathrow service from Belfast International Airport (BIA) and concentrate resources in Belfast City Airport. However, bmi will maintain a presence at BAI as bmibaby will be including Belfast International as a destination to be served from a new UK base to be announced shortly.
05 October 2001
British Midland step in to serve Heathrow
British Midland has announced that the airline will fly to London Heathrow from both Belfast City Airport and from Belfast International Airport.
British Midland step in to serve Heathrow
British Midland has announced that the airline will fly to London Heathrow from both Belfast City Airport and from Belfast International Airport.
27 September 2023
Belfast City Airport Ranked UK's Most Punctual Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ranked Belfast City Airport as the UK's Most Punctual Airport for the first quarter of 2023. The CAA analyses data on arriving and departing scheduled and chartered flights to rank airports performance.
Belfast City Airport Ranked UK's Most Punctual Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ranked Belfast City Airport as the UK's Most Punctual Airport for the first quarter of 2023. The CAA analyses data on arriving and departing scheduled and chartered flights to rank airports performance.
17 August 2023
Belfast City Airport Named UK's Most Punctual Airport
Belfast City Airport has been ranked the UK’s Most Punctual Airport for Q1 2023 according to data released by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Belfast City Airport Named UK's Most Punctual Airport
Belfast City Airport has been ranked the UK’s Most Punctual Airport for Q1 2023 according to data released by the Civil Aviation Authority.
15 September 2009
City Airport Flies Into Turbulence
Despite claims to the contrary, officials at Belfast's urban airport are denying that passing aircraft were responsible for damaging a local resident's roof. George Best Belfast City Airport has released a statement that said their radars show four aircrafts had landed between 1pm and 1.30pm on Sunday, when the roof was damaged.
City Airport Flies Into Turbulence
Despite claims to the contrary, officials at Belfast's urban airport are denying that passing aircraft were responsible for damaging a local resident's roof. George Best Belfast City Airport has released a statement that said their radars show four aircrafts had landed between 1pm and 1.30pm on Sunday, when the roof was damaged.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
