Controversial plans for new flight paths to and from Edinburgh Airport have been put on hold.
The airport intended to create new routes which it said were needed to meet demand and to make use of modern navigation systems.
However, the Civil Aviation Authority, which had to approve the changes before they could be implemented, has halted its review of the proposal.
It has asked the airport to address a number of technical and co-ordination issues.
People in several Fife communities under the proposed routes, including North Queensferry and Dalgety Bay, fear they will suffer from the noise of a huge increase in air traffic if they are adopted.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell welcomed what he admitted was a temporary reprieve and said proper consideration needed to be given to Scotland’s transport priorities before the programme resumed.
He said: “These plans have been arrogantly rushed through by Edinburgh Airport and the result has been flaws at every stage of the consultation.
“Now we learn that even the technical aspects of the proposal were not up to scratch, and we’re pleased to see the CAA taking their duty as regulators seriously and putting a halt to these plans.
“This is only a temporary reprieve for local communities though, as the airport can still re-submit their application.
“We think there needs to be a halt to unfettered airport expansion whilst we seriously consider Scotland’s connectivity needs.”
More than 5,000 people took part in the first stage of the airport’s consultation on its airspace change programme.
In May a coalition of community councils and politicians urged the CAA to halt the process, claiming a lack of clarity in the proposals.
They said it was unclear how many flights would be passing overhead, at what time, and what the noise and environmental impact would be.
An update on the review on the CAA’s website stated: “The CAA has decided not to continue its review into stage five of the Airspace Change Process.
“We have requested the airport address a number of technical and coordination issues.”
An airport spokesman said: “Scotland’s first airspace change programme in over 40 years is a complex exercise involving many organisations.
“Our airspace change programme is the first of many and it is clear that all of this needs to be co-ordinated with NATS (National Air Traffic Services).
“We’re clear that our proposal is the best balance achievable in terms of surrounding communities and our operation, and works for Edinburgh and Scotland.
“We’ll be working with NATS on the co-ordination issues to allow the CAA to restart its analysis so we can develop the airport for the future.”
