The Council of State has dismissed Flanders’ appeal against the new satellite guidance system for planes at Brussels Airport, L’Echo reports.
As of 5 October, a new satellite-guided navigation technique has been implemented at Brussels Airport. By activating the new system, Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet has brought Belgium into line with an EU requirement due to take effect in January 2024.
However, the Flemish Region quickly opposed the new system, arguing that GPS guidance implies changes to air routes and increased noise pollution for residents of areas flown over in the Flemish outskirts.
A motion of interest conflict was submitted to the Consultation Committee (Codeco), a complaint filed at the Brussels Court of First Instance, and a suspension appeal lodged with the Council of State.
The latter issued a ruling on Tuesday, dismissively rejecting Flanders’ appeal. Its plea for urgent action was deemed unviable. The Council of State deemed its grievances insufficiently detailed.
In addition, trials of the new system were conducted in 2018 and 2019, during which Flanders raised no objections, noted the decision.
The ruling concluded, “It does not emerge from the case files what additional noise pollution would result from this shift in air routes.”
