AN ONLINE tracking system for passenger planes flying in and out of Bournemouth Airport and other local air traffic has gone live to allow local residents to see for themselves just how near - or far away - that noisy aeroplane really was.

The WebTrak system is available through the airport web site - bournemouthairport.com - making Bournemouth the first regional airport in the South to introduce the facility.

Using the airport's own air traffic control data the system logs in real time all aircraft movements below 15,000 feet within a 30-mile radius of Hurn as far afield as Swanage, Sturminister Newton, Salisbury and Southampton.

Aircraft movements can then be replayed in an easy-to read display which can be zoomed in to large scale local maps and as well as tracking the flight path the information also includes the altitude of the aircraft and information about the type of plane, details of the flight number, destination or origin and operator.

Flight information is updated daily - although for security reasons public access to the display is delayed for 24 hours - and the records are stored online for 30 days.

The launch of WebTrak fulfils an airport pledge to provide the service as part of its £32 million redevelopment of the former Second World War airfield which now handles around a million passengers a year.

Airport operations director Paul Knight said: "We are fully committed to supporting our local community and want to be as transparent as possible about our operation.

"WebTrak provides this facility and gives everyone living and working in the area a clear picture about what is happening in the skies above them."

As well as resolving complaints from the public about low-flying aircraft, the system will also allow the airport to monitor flights and act against airlines straying from approved flight paths over sensitive areas.