17 JULY 1964, Page 14

OVERHEAD NUISANCE

Sta,—The only surprising thing about Watchman's strictures on aircraft noises is that he should con- fine them to the supersonic. Obviously he must live well away from London Airport. In Richmond it has now become an accepted habit that for every two minutes' conversation there is a corresponding one minute's silence while the next half-empty jet blasts its way towards London Airport. Yet Rich- mond is several miles from the landing ground. Pity the poor people in Hounslow. It is said that we cannot halt the advance of science. Not even when it is uneconomic and to nobody's advantage? Who really wants to fly the Atlantic that little bit faster?