THREE new flight paths over East Lothian are being put forward for public consultation as part of a move by Edinburgh Airport to prepare for future expansion.

The airport's Airspace Change Programme (ACP) has been looking at ways to introducing more modern flight paths which will use the Forth and provide more accurate routes for aircraft.

Bosses at the airport say the technology used by plans currently dates back to the 1950s and uses ground-based radio beacons which mean the flight paths from the airport were broad and varied.

The new technology will allow them to introduce precisely defined paths,which they have put forward following an initial public consultation held last summer.

Letters have been delivered to households across East Lothian urging people take part in the second consultation and directing them to a website which shows the new defined pathways.

The two routes set out for departing flights, which have been marked as the preferred options by the airport, are shown alongside other considered routes which were considered less suitable.

One would continue to take departing flights over Musselburgh, a route heavily used under the old system, but aim to take the planes up to 10,000 ft before they reached the town.

A second departing route would bring the plane over land at Longniddry, further than they have in the past, but would also mean the planes would reach 10,000ft above the Firth of Forth before turning towards land.

A new arrivals route for the airport from the east brings planes in over Tranent, Prestonpans and Cockenzie and Port Seton, with the descent expected to see planes as low as 3,000ft when they reach the East Lothian communities.

Noise experts say planes passing over homes and schools under 4,000ft can create a noise of 73 decibels, which is equivalent to a car passing you 25 ft away at 65 miles an hour or a vacuum cleaner being used in the same room.

Edinburgh Airport says the proposed new routes, which also include seven which fly over Fife, West and Midlothian, will reduce the number of people whose properties are overflown by aircraft at below 7,000ft by 25,000.

And it believes introducing precise paths will reduce the carbon footprint of the airport itself.

The new proposed paths will be out for public consultation for three months before final plans are put before the Civil Aviation Authority for approval.

Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport’s chief executive, said letters had been sent to more than 640,000 households outlining the design of the flight paths and seeking their views.

He said: "Our proposed flight paths are a balance of interests focused on three key factors; impact on communities, airspace regulation as well as airport and aircraft operations.

"Edinburgh Airport and the aviation sector in general are strongly growing parts of a still sluggish Scottish economy – and we have get this right for the sake of jobs in Scotland and environmental considerations.

“We have worked closely with key stakeholders including community and environmental groups and our proposed changes would reduce the noise impact on the community, reduce emissions and allow us to continue to meet growing demand safely and sustainably.

“In this second stage of public consultation we will be reaching out again to our neighbouring communities

“In the initial consultation over 5,000 members of the public responded to the consultation. This time, with lines on the map, we look forward to hearing from even more people.

“As with all major infrastructure expansion plans, we know that not everyone will agree with our proposals; therefore we are committed - where people are adversely impacted by changes – to mitigation and compensation measures.”

For more information on the consultation go to letsgofurther.com