SOUTHEND Airport’s move to take control of airspace within 2.5 miles, in an effort to cut delays and improve safety, has taken a step forward.

The airport’s owners have started a consultation, which will last until December.

An application is being made to the Civil Aviation Authority forcing pilots of any planes over Southend Airport to seek permission from its air traffic control tower. The airport has not controlled the airspace since 1992 because, up until recently, so few flights used it.

This means aircraft can come within 2.5 miles of the airport without asking permission, which can lead to delays for scheduled flights.

A temporary zone was brought in during the Olympics last year, which was said to have been successful. It is expected the control could be in place by summer 2014. The airport’s operations director, David Lister, said: “Safety and security are our number one priority.

“With passenger operations having been re-established to the level of our previous peak, when controlled airspace was in operation, we believe the re-establishment of controlled airspace is now appropriate.”

The consultation document can be viewed at www.southendairport.com/news/controlled-airspace.