Climate change to bring more heat and wind disruptions to aviation, BBC reports
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Aviation will face increasingly hot and windy conditions as climate change accelerates, according to a BBC report. Passengers will bear the consequences through more frequent delays and cancellations. The June disruption at London Heathrow and Gatwick, where about 900 flights were delayed, is seen as a warning of future chaos.
Key Facts
- About 900 flights were delayed at London Heathrow and Gatwick on a Saturday in late June, some by up to 11 hours.
- Tim Atkinson, an aviation risk consultant and former pilot, warns that all London airports could suddenly cease normal operations due to unpredictable weather.
- NATS air traffic controllers at Swanwick in Hampshire continuously monitor thunderstorms to reroute flights around storm zones.
June Disruption
In late June, thunderstorms over southern England and Northern Europe caused chaos for thousands of passengers at London Heathrow and Gatwick. Air traffic controllers rerouted flights around storm zones, but airspace became overloaded and many aircraft waited on the ground. About 900 flights were delayed at the two airports, some for up to 11 hours, and dozens were cancelled. Passengers across Europe waiting to fly to London also faced long delays and uncertainty.
Climate Risk
Industry figures view the June disruption as a warning of more frequent incidents as climate change intensifies. Tim Atkinson, an aviation risk consultant and former pilot, says the UK and Northern Europe are especially vulnerable due to high air traffic density. He warns of a real risk that weather could simultaneously affect all London airports, causing severe consequences in the air and on the ground. Atkinson states that rapid climate change is shifting from weather events that disable one airport to situations where all London airports could suddenly cease normal operations with little warning.
Air Traffic Control
At NATS' main air traffic control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, thunderstorms are a particular concern for controllers. In the Terminal Control section, which handles flights to and from London and southern England airports, storm fronts are continuously monitored on large radar screens. Controllers track storm movement while analysing weather forecasts to manage the wave-like intensity of air traffic throughout the day.
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