We're sharing proposals for reintroducing satellite-based navigational procedures to Route 4, one of the departure routes for aircraft flying out of London Gatwick.
Route 4 is one of the nine departure routes from London Gatwick. Planes flying Route 4 take-off in a westerly direction from the Main Runway, before turning 180 degrees northwards and heading east to their final destination.
UK airspace was designed in the 1950s using now outdated ground-based navigation technology, also known as conventional navigation procedures. These procedures are in the process of being phased out as part of a wider UK government drive to modernise airspace.
Across the UK, airports are required to adopt new navigational procedures which use modern, satellite-based technology.
Satellite-based navigational procedures were first introduced to all nine departure routes from the Main Runway at London Gatwick (including Route 4) in 2013. However, due to regulatory and legal challenge, this technology was subsequently withdrawn on Route 4 in 2019.
Since then, London Gatwick has undertaken extensive work to progress an airspace change proposal (ACP) to reintroduce the new navigational procedures on Route 4 and overcome issues identified in the legal challenge.
This ACP is essential because the ground-based infrastructure which supports conventional navigation is being phased out. The ACP could also help to deliver benefits for communities, including reduced noise and environmental impacts.
Proposals to change airspace design must follow a comprehensive process outlined in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)'s CAP1616 guidance. The CAA evaluates the progress of every ACP through a series of stages known as gateway assessments.
During stages 1 and 2 of the process, London Gatwick engaged community representatives and other key stakeholders to develop and agree the Design Principles underpinning the options for the future of Route 4.
We are now at Stage 3, where London Gatwick is required to undertake a public consultation to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders on the shortlisted options.
Following this public consultation, London Gatwick will use the feedback received to further evolve the Route 4 designs. It will then select a final option which will be submitted to the CAA for formal approval.
Further information about the airspace change process can be found here.
The consultation will run from Tuesday 20 January 2026 until 23:59 on Tuesday 28 April 2026. All the information associated with this consultation, including how to take part and have your say, will be available on the Citizen Space website between these dates.