Taking you forward and skyward

Eindhoven Airport is the first airport to map out the expected runway and flight path use

Eindhoven Airport is the first airport to launch a tool that literally maps the runway direction and flight path forecasts for the local community.

With this new tool in the BurenApp, residents can check daily to see what the civil air traffic will be like around their neighbourhood. The app looks ahead by the hour to see how many civil aircraft are flying in the Eindhoven Airport area and from which direction they are taking off or landing. At the beginning of next year, the tool will even look 24 hours ahead, allowing residents to already see next morning’s air traffic the previous evening. Eindhoven Airport developed the tool in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre and air traffic control at Eindhoven Air Base. Official meteorological data from the KNMI is used.

Roel Hellemons, CEO of Eindhoven Airport said: “Eindhoven Airport likes to keep local residents well informed. We think this is important and we invest in it. For example, we have expanded the BurenApp to include the runway and route forecasts for civil air traffic. This allows local residents to see in advance what the expected civil air traffic will be in their skies. We see this as an important step in informing our neighbours even better.”

Christian Agerbeek, commander of airport services at Eindhoven Air Base, expects that providing more information on the flight movements will contribute to more understanding. “It’s a useful tool for local residents to be able to anticipate future air traffic.”

According to Henk Veerbeek, advisor to the Netherlands Aerospace Centre, it is an excellent initiative to share this information with users. “The tool gives local residents more insight into the operation of Eindhoven Airport. The forecast is based on the weather forecast used by air traffic control. By providing the expected runway use, the NLR can make a useful contribution to the expansion of the BurenApp.”

Eindhoven Airport launched the BurenApp earlier this year on 1st May. This first version of the BurenApp enabled local residents to follow all up-to-date local flight movements and directions.

The BurenApp also gives further information on noise and air quality as important aspects of liveability. Flight facts offer clarity on a range of practical matters related to flying. In the app, local residents can read news and background information about Eindhoven Airport tailored to their surroundings. They can also give feedback on the information they receive. Eindhoven Airport is the first airport in the Netherlands to launch an app specifically geared to the local community. With the app, Eindhoven Airport wants to stay in close contact with its immediate surroundings and gauge how local residents value developments at the airport.