HACAN calls on Government to ditch for good outdated way of measuring aircraft noise

The  UK government uses the Leq system to measure aircraft noise over a 16 hour day. The EU uses the Lden method to measure aircraft noise.  This averages the noise out over a 12 hour day; then a 4 hour evening; and finally an 8 hour night.   It adds 5 decibels to the evening level and 10 decibels to the night level to allow for the lower background noise levels at those times.   This gives a more realistic measure. The EU estimates that around 720,000 people are disturbed by noise from Heathrow aircraft, while the UK Government puts it much lower at less than 300,000.



4.1.2012   (Hacan)

Current method denies aircraft noise is a problem in Putney, West London constituency of Transport Secretary Justine Greening

HACAN, representing residents under the Heathrow flight paths, has called on the Government to include plans to change the way it measures aircraft noise in its draft aviation policy, expected to go out to public consultation before the end of March.

The current method the Government uses varies from the one recommended by the
European Union. It also contradicts the guidelines for noise annoyance recommended
by the World Health Organisation.

The EU estimates that around 720,000 people are disturbed by noise from Heathrow
aircraft. The UK Government puts it much lower at less than 300,000.

HACAN Chair John Stewart said: “The way UK governments have traditionally
measured noise no longer tallies with reality. Using its method, aircraft noise ceases
to be a problem around Barnes. It defies reality to say that people in places like
Putney, Fulham, Battersea and Clapham are not disturbed by aircraft noise.

We are calling on the Government to ditch this outdated way of measuring aircraft noise.”
John Stewart added, “When drawing up its new aviation policy, the Transport
Secretary and Putney MP Justine Greening has the perfect opportunity to bring the
way UK measurements noise up-to-date.”

The Government works on the assumption that aircraft noise only becomes disturbing
for people when it averages out at 57 decibels measured over a 16 hour day.

The World Health Organisation argues that people become “seriously annoyed” by aircraft
noise when it averages out at 55 decibels and “moderately annoyed” at 50 decibels.

The EU numbers (1) are much closer to the World Health Organisation findings.

When it drew up its noise actions plans in 2009 the UK was required to use the EU
method.  In its recent report (2), which discovered that 28% all the people in Europe
affected aircraft noise live under the Heathrow flight paths, the CAA also used the EU
method.


(1).  The EU uses what is known as the Lden method to measure aircraft noise.  It
averages the noise out over a 12 hour day; then a 4 hour evening; and finally an 8
hour night.   It adds 5 decibels to the evening level and 10 decibels to the night level to
allow for the lower background noise levels at those times.   The UK Government uses
what is known as Leq: averaging the noise out over a 16 hour day.
(2). http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/589/CAA_InsightNote2_Aviation_Policy_For_The_En
vironment.pdf 


 

There is more information at

Noise

Noise suffered by local communities near airports