Heathrow has vowed to address the problem of 'illegal' flights, after a study showed increasing numbers of heavy aircraft are straying from their designated departure route.
Bosses at the airport have promised to work with residents of Ashford and surrounding areas, who have complained of a huge rise over the last two years in the number of planes flying low over their homes, which lie outside the approved flight path.
An investigation by Heathrow showed many more large aircraft like Boeing 747s and A340s have been flying beyond the permitted corridor, and at significantly lower heights than before, in recent years on the Compton route.
The airport says the problem is specific to that route, used by planes departing to the east from the southern runway and banking to the west, towards the US.
Route not designed with larger planes in mind
As with all departure routes, aircraft are meant to follow the "noise preferential route" – a 3km wide corridor designed in the 1960s to minimise disturbance for those living near the airport.
But Heathrow says the Compton route was not designed with today’s larger planes like the A380, A340 and 747 in mind.
It says those heavier planes - many of which are heading to the USA's west coast, so are laden with fuel - cannot climb as steeply and struggle to stick to the corridor, much to the annoyance of those living below.
Kevin Young, who lives in Ashford, says it is like a “bombing raid” some days, with more and more planes flying low over his house in the past two years, despite it lying outside the flight path.
'Like a bombing raid'
"The noise over the last year in particular has been unaceptable. These planes have full thrust on because they're trying to gain height quickly but they're not able to," he said.
"It's like a bombing raid some days because there are so many planes passing overhead and they're flying so low."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says aircraft are required to follow the specific flight path unless directed otherwise by air traffic control.
The regulator states that an aircraft's ability to follow an exact route is affected by factors including wind and the plane's weight.
Airports have the power to fine airlines whose planes fail to comply, and the government is able to ban those consistently flouting the rules.
Heathrow setting up working group to look at options
Heathrow says it has chosen not to impose fines as the Compton route was not designed with today's aircraft in mind and they are often directed by air controllers to leave the path before reaching 4,000ft.
However, Mr Young claims that if planes are not able to follow the route they should not be allowed to choose that route in the first place.
He says they should only be allowed to veer from the path without getting fined if it is for unforeseeable safety reasons.
Heathrow says more than 90% of flights keep to their designated departure paths but the Compton route has been a headache for many years.
Although the number of flights deviating from the permitted route has not risen in the last couple of years, it says, there has been a significant increase the number of large planes flying low over areas outside the corridor.
It insists the issue is a priority and it is setting up a working group with local residents to look at all possible options.
A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "Heathrow is aware of the long standing issues with the Compton departure route during periods of easterly winds.
"Working with industry partners and local community representatives, we will be reviewing the procedures used on the Compton route over the next few months, in order to address the concerns raised by residents."
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