More planes could be banned from flying at night at Gatwick under plans being considered by the Government.

The noisiest aircraft are already prohibited from taking off or landing between 11pm and 7am.

Now the Government is consulting on whether to include the quieter category of planes in the ban.

Interested parties are also being asked to comment on whether there should be changes to noise and weight limits that apply to night flying at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted.

The consultation paper is about a night restriction regime intended to take effect at the three airports for six years, starting in winter 2005-06. This is stage one of the consultation exercise and stage two will be published later.

By the time the new six-year night noise regime period ends in summer 2011, the new fifth terminal at Heathrow will have opened and the opening date for a second runway at Stansted should be known.

Aviation minister Tony McNulty said: "The issues relating to the way aircraft are classified for night restrictions purposes need to be resolved in stage one so that the effects of different options for the length of the night quota period, the size of the noise quotas and movement limits and the ratios between them can each be assessed properly in stage two."

Friday July 23, 2004