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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/16/london-helicopter-crash-residents-concerns
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| London helicopter crash: residents had expressed concerns about flights | London helicopter crash: residents had expressed concerns about flights |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Local residents and MPs in south-west London had expressed concerns about the levels of helicopter flights before the crash. | Local residents and MPs in south-west London had expressed concerns about the levels of helicopter flights before the crash. |
| Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall where the accident occurred, said there should be a "real inquiry" into the increased use of helicopters at a time when London was seeing a boom in skyscraper construction. | |
| Most residents' concern has been about helicopter noise. Battersea heliport, the main London base, limits the number of private flights on a normal day to around 80, although exemptions can double this, and government and emergency services flights are not capped. | Most residents' concern has been about helicopter noise. Battersea heliport, the main London base, limits the number of private flights on a normal day to around 80, although exemptions can double this, and government and emergency services flights are not capped. |
| Wandsworth council advertises a complaints line for residents and says the helicopter base has an "adverse effect" on the local environment in terms of noise and air quality. | Wandsworth council advertises a complaints line for residents and says the helicopter base has an "adverse effect" on the local environment in terms of noise and air quality. |
| Hoey said: "We will need a real inquiry into the increasing use of helicopters flying into London coupled with the large number of new tall buildings." | Hoey said: "We will need a real inquiry into the increasing use of helicopters flying into London coupled with the large number of new tall buildings." |
| She added: "Maybe we've come to take it for granted that people have the right to take helicopters over London and I think we may have to look at that. | She added: "Maybe we've come to take it for granted that people have the right to take helicopters over London and I think we may have to look at that. |
| "Something terribly wrong happened today but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look into the wider issues." | "Something terribly wrong happened today but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look into the wider issues." |
| Last year an early day motion sponsored by four Lib Dem and Labour MPs noted "with concern the large number of non-essential helicopter flights over London" and that "lack of regulation in this field means that there is no limit on night-time flying and that sufficient safety precautions are not in place for the landing sites". | Last year an early day motion sponsored by four Lib Dem and Labour MPs noted "with concern the large number of non-essential helicopter flights over London" and that "lack of regulation in this field means that there is no limit on night-time flying and that sufficient safety precautions are not in place for the landing sites". |
| It called on the government to introduce regulation to ensure all helicopter flights were registered with a central agency and to disincentivise the use of private helicopters in urban areas. | It called on the government to introduce regulation to ensure all helicopter flights were registered with a central agency and to disincentivise the use of private helicopters in urban areas. |
| The Shard is the most notable of the latest skyscrapers along the Thames, with its summit at 310 metres (1,016ft). Over a dozen more are under construction or approved for construction in the next six years that will rise over 150 metres (500ft), doubling the number of such buildings on the central London skyline. | |
| However, experts cautioned against knee-jerk reactions. James Healy-Pratt, head of aviation at Stewarts Law and a licensed turbine helicopter pilot, said: "Civil aviation is very safe. That includes twin-engine helicopters. These are £2-3m machines that are flown by professional pilots who can easily cope with a changing skyline." | |
| The last fatal accident in the UK involving the Agusta 109 occurred in Northern Ireland in October 2010, killing two friends of Prince Charles, in an incident caused by poor visibility. | The last fatal accident in the UK involving the Agusta 109 occurred in Northern Ireland in October 2010, killing two friends of Prince Charles, in an incident caused by poor visibility. |