HOUSEHOLDERS in many towns and villages in the county need to brace themselves for a dramatic increase in aircraft noise expected to be created by the new Kent International Airport.

Lack of strict controls over flight paths pilots are expected to obey on take-off from Manston have been identified as a potentially serious cause for concern.

The warning hs been was issued by an airport watchdog body fearing peace in the skies over villages, particularly those east of Canterbury, could be shattered by EUjet's Fokker 100 pilots short-cutting their routes to European destinations and beyond.

The official flight path recommended by the airport authorities on take-off from Manston steers planes in a horseshoe route west off the runway, north over Reculver, and east over the sea round the east Kent coast.

But the Manston Airport Group (MAG) has already seen pilots adopt a rogue route over east Kent in the build-up to the official start date for passenger operations on Wednesday, September 1.

They claim that some pilots double-back sharply inland after flying over Reculver to steer a southerly course east of Canterbury before passing over Dover en route to Europe.

Peter Binding, secretary of MAG, said: "It's a fuel-saving exercise that could cause east Kent residents a lot of problems. And all for the sake of saving 30 miles on a long journey."

He says that pilots using Manston will need to adhere to few of the strict regulations governing air corridors into and out of Heathrow when EUjet begin ferrying an estimated 600,000 passengers on low-cost flights to more than 20 European destinations.

Mr Binding said: "We want passenger and freight planes to go round the coast but we understand that they are not always prepared to do that for reasons of cost.

"Despite making scheduled flights to destinations thousands of miles away, they want to save fuel by saving 30 miles on a route inland over the Canterbury area.

"The airport will have very few controls over where the pilots fly unlike the air traffic control system operated at Heathrow.

"Canterbury City Council would be wise to become as pro-active on this issue as Dover council in trying to clear the skies of noise pollution.

"It's important the city council lobby Thanet District Council vigorously to protect their residents from the noise that could make their lives unbearable."

He warned that freight traffic could become even more of a nuisance than passenger travel when the new £2.5million border inspection post facility opens shortly.

Mr Binding stressed: "We are concerned that much of the freight will be flown in by old, noisy 747s arriving at all times of the day and night, despite assurances to the contrary.

"Some of the air traffic will come from Africa, whose pilots have the freedom of the skies back home with few of the regulations we have here. Canterbury City Council needs to exert as much pressure as possible to ensure that controls are in place over these environmental issues concerning volume of traffic, noise and flight paths.

"With flights beginning at 6am, I envisage a great deal of unwelcome early morning disturbance for residents."

But Kent International Airport officials insist they would become "good neighbours" for the east Kent public.

In a statement, spokesman Philip Bosley said: "The airport is very conscious of the need to be a good neighbour and every effort is made to minimise environmental, visual and noise impacts.

"We have an extensive and independently verified programme of noise monitoring and flight paths are carefully designed to reduce noise on the ground."

He insisted the Fokker 100 aircraft used by EUjet had an "excellent" reputation for quiet operation.

No flights would begin before 6am and no planes would fly after 11pm. The same restrictions applied to cargo flights, although in "some circumstances" flights would be made beyond the deadline.

Flight numbers would ncrease "substantially" from Manston. But no more than 30 movements per day would be flown.

"We do not believe that under normal circumstances there will be any stacking of planes around the airport. If established protocols are broken by airlines (eg late arrival due to operational difficulties) then a fine is paid and put into a fund to support community projects and causes.

"Money is allocated to projects and causes by the independent Manston Airport Consultative Committee."

Thanet District Council launch plans this autumn to reduce the impact of Manston and noise pollution on the local area.

Spokesperson Cheryl Pendry said: "A revised version of the Section 106 Agreement between Manston airport and the council, taking into account the new passenger service, will be drafted this autumn.

"The draft agreement will be subject to widespread public consultation by the council from October."

Canterbury City Council said it had no jurisdiction over aircraft noise fears. Spokesman Rob Davies said: "If anyone has cause for concern, we will refer them to the Civil Aviation Authority. "Thanet Council is more involved than us because they have handled the planning consent."