Aircraft Departing to the north
Aircraft departing in a northerly direction are required to continue along the runway heading (track) until reaching two and a half miles from the end of the runway. This avoids overflying the village of Bishopstoke to the north east, and densely populated areas of Eastleigh and Chandler’s Ford to the north west. After this point aircraft will then route as directed by NATS.

Aircraft Arriving from the North (Runway 20)
Non-Visual Approach (using specialist navigation equipment): Aircraft will join the standard approach path from no less than 8 nautical miles and at a constant 3.1° angle of approach.

Visual Approach: Aircraft making a visual approach will be aligned with the centre line of the runway from not less than 2 nautical miles when arriving from a southerly point of origin, and at 5 nautical miles when from northerly, easterly or westerly directions.

Aircraft Departing to the South
Aircraft taking off to the south will climb straight ahead to 500ft above mean sea level, then turn right to follow a 217° heading. This heading will be maintained until reaching Southampton Water or 2000ft above mean sea level, whichever is reached first. The exact point at which aircraft reach 500ft and subsequently turn, will vary depending on many factors, such as engine type, aircraft weight and weather conditions.

Aircraft Arriving from the South (Runway 02)
Non-Visual Approach (using specialist navigation equipment): Please see above for VOR (Radio Beacon) Approach.

Visual Approach: The point at which aircraft are required to be on alignment with the runway’s centre line, when making a visual approach has been moved outwards from two miles to four miles. This aims to reduce lower-level over flying of parts of urban Southampton. Aircraft now join the approach path over the lessdensely populated Southampton Water area to manoeuvre onto the runway centre line for arrival. The aircraft are then required to follow a 3º angle of approach for operational reasons.

Exclusions from Noise Preferred Routes
These routes do not mean that benefiting areas will avoid being overflown completely, as there are conditions when noise preferred routes will not be flown. These include:

Type of aircraft:
These routes only apply to commercial aircraft above 5700kgs and to all jet aircraft. Smaller aircraft types, such as the Trislander aircraft, smaller propeller aircraft and helicopters will not follow these routes as this would result in significantly increased journey times and increased fuel usage.

Operational activity:
Occasionally aircraft will be directed by NATS not to fly the Noise Preferred Route due to weather conditions, other air traffic in the area, or for aircraft performance reasons.

In addition, communities around the airport are likely to see and hear aircraft even if they do not fly directly overhead.