New video from Windsor reveals – Olympic style – the worst plane noise the borough suffers
A new short video has been produced by Wisdom da Costa, who has been a councillor in Windsor, and was chair of the West Windsor Residents Association (WWRA). In the spirit of the Olympics, it looks in a light hearted way at the noise from Heathrow planes that his borough has to suffer. He measured the noise (using an iPhone 6 and the Uplause App) from a range of planes that flew over Windsor at about 1,800 feet. Windsor gets landings for about one third of the year, and take offs for two thirds of the year and is around 8 km from the end of the runways. Ranking the noise produced by short haul planes, the B757 was noisiest (80 dB) with the A320 at 79dB and the A321 third at 74dB. Ranking the medium haul planes, the noisiest was the A330 at 88dB, with the B767 and B787 at about 85dB. Then for the largest, long haul planes, the winner – the very noisiest – was the B747 at 89dB followed equally by the A380 and the B777 at about 85dB. Noise levels of 80 – 90 decibels are compared to blow-dryer, or a kitchen blender/food processor. A lot of noise studies have shown continuous exposure to this sort of noise has negative effects on human health. Wisdom says this, contrary to the Olympic comparison, is not just a bit of fun. It is a serious problem. And he asks “Why have human health impacts been suppressed?’ in relation to a Heathrow runway.
.
Tweet
The video is at
https://youtu.be/XhN-7cnoPq8 (9 mins 12 secs)
Email: wisdomdacosta@hotmail.co.uk
The location of Windsor, and Old Windsor in relation to Heathrow
Below are some stills from the video
The planes measured, in the three noise categories (all measured at heights of around 1,800 feet)
The ranking of the short haul planes – which should be a bit less noisy than the larger ones.
The ranking for the medium distance planes
The ranking of the largest, heaviest planes
Below are some examples of noise levels by way of comparison
Link
Extremely Loud
110 dB = maximum output of some MP3 players, model airplane, chain saw
106 dB = gas lawn mower, snowblower
100 dB = hand drill, pneumatic drill
90 dB = subway, passing motorcycle
Very Loud
80–90 dB = blow-dryer, kitchen blender, food processor
70 dB = busy traffic, vacuum cleaner, alarm clock
Moderate
60 dB = typical conversation, dishwasher, clothes dryer
50 dB = moderate rainfall
40 dB = quiet room
Heathrow warning for PM Theresa May
By Francis Batt (Windsor Observer)
20.8.2016
Campaigners claim that Theresa May would run into trouble locally if she backed a third runway at Heathrow.
Lobby group HACAN, which is against Heathrow expansion, has unearthed a poll which shows that less than a third of residents in Windsor and Maidenhead borough, which includes the Prime Minister’s constituency, back a third runway at Heathrow.
HACAN chairman John Stewart said, “These findings show just how carefully the Prime Minister will have to tread in coming to her decision about where a new runway should be built. She risks a backlash in her own backyard if she gives the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow.”
The poll’s findings showed that only 31% of people in the borough backed Heathrow Airport’s plans for a third runway, with 38% opposed to it. 50% supported a second runway at Gatwick, with 14% against.
….
The Royal Borough has remained steadily opposed to Heathrow expansion – Old Windsor in particular suffers from noisy night flights. ….. Windsor’s MP Adam Afriyie opposes expansion
But Heathrow has hit back this week, revealing that a new poll shows 51% of people in 12 constituencies in the area supported Heathrow expansion with only 35% against.
It says more than 10,000 people were interviewed, including in Windsor and Slough.
….. and the article continues with Heathrow’s comments
.
.
.
.