Aviation and Noise
Noise Briefing Sheets
1. Aircraft noise - an introduction
Noise is the major problem for most communities living around airports and under
flight paths, especially at night. Aircraft noise has been an issue ever since the introduction of the first jet
aircraft, since when the benefits of progressive technological improvements have
tended to be offset by the introduction of larger aircraft, more frequent movements
(often at sensitive times of day) and growing community expectations.
The Government’s official noise index averages out the noise throughout the day: it measures the noise of each aircraft (i.e. the sound energy, in decibels,
that each aircraft movement produces) and averages the total out over a 16 hour
day to get what is known as an equivalent continuous noise level (abbreviated
as LAeq). This has been criticised on two counts. Firstly, the average includes
the periods in the day when there are no aircraft noise events at some airports.
And, secondly, many people argue that, in assessing the noise, insufficient weight
is given to the incidence of aircraft noise events. Because individual planes
have got quieter over the last 20 years, the Government and industry can claim
that noise exposure contours have shrunk, when the reality is that noise remains
as much of an issue today as it has ever been, if not more, as the number of noise
events has substantially increased. The Government claims that "the onset of significant community annoyance" starts
when the noise from aircraft averages out at 57 decibels, known as 57dB(A) LAeq. The World Health Organisation (WHO) puts the figure between 50 and 55 decibels
(and about 10 decibels lower at night). On this basis, it recommends maximum noise
exposure levels of 55 dBA Leq to avoid the risk of people being significantly
annoyed. There is little prospect of significantly quieter planes being introduced over
the next 20 years. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a tougher standard
for new aircraft noise that will come into force until 1 January 2006. However,
the standard is already met by 98% of aircraft currently in-production. ICAO also
agreed that there should be no global phase-out of existing “Chapter 3” aircraft
to speed up the transition to quieter aircraft. This means that the sort of expansion
envisaged in the Aviation White Paper will inevitably lead to more people across
the country being exposed to higher levels of noise (a fact proven by the Government’s
own noise calculations). Looking to the future: Nobody – even within the aviation industry – claims that the level of expansion
envisaged in the Aviation White Paper will not result in noise becoming a bigger
problem for a greater number of people. The only way to avoid an increase in noise
problems would be to reduce the number of aircraft movements, or to see a step-change
in the noise of individual aircraft. Neither is on the cards. The Government’s
approach has been tacitly to accept that the noise climate will get worse and
try to lessen the blow for those worst affected through the compensation and mitigation
measures that airports are expected to provide. But these schemes are far from
generous and are not on offer to the vast majority of people affected by aircraft
noise.
2. Complaining about noisy and off-track aircraft:
If you have complaints about noise, or of planes away from set flight paths, you can complain to your local airport management (check who is the appropriate manager to write to).
Copy your letter to us at AirportWatch,* or copy your local campaigning organisation.
Send a copy to the DfT: Martin Capstick, Aviation Environmental Policy, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR
3. Effects of Aircraft Noise on Children’s Cognition and Long Term Memory:
February 2000 - report from California
Effects of Aircraft Noise on Children’s Cognition and Long Term Memory
4. Children's reading and memory affected by exposure to aircraft noise:
Effects of Aircraft Noise on Children’s Cognition and Long Term Memory
5. AirportWatch held a conference entitled "Aircraft Noise - a widespread and growing problem", in London on 27th October.
More documents from the conference will be available from this page shortly.
6. Planning Policy Guidance 24: Planning and Noise
Planning Policy Guidance 24: Planning and Noise
7. European Action
8. Two articles from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_noise Aircraft Noise (Wikipedia)
9. Noise demystified - useful bits and pieces of background from different sources
Aircraft Noise Deymystified LAeq etc
In the Aviation and Noise Section
Noise and Human Health
Site under construction - there will be papers and publications on the effects of noise on human health
Noise Briefing Sheets
Site under construction - there will be a selection of briefing sheets on aircraft noise
This section will soon contain information on how to complain about aircraft noise
Latest Aviation and Noise Information:
General noise briefing
Aircraft Noise - an introduction
Effects of Aircraft Noise on Children’s Cognition and Long Term Memory
