Noise News
Below are links to stories about noise in relation to airports and aviation.
Consultation by Transport Committee on “modernisation” of airspace, especially to add a new runway
Government consultations on the Heathrow National Policy Statement and airspace change start on 2nd February. In addition there is an inquiry by the Commons Transport Committee, on management and "modernisation" of airspace. What modernisation means is more narrow flight paths, intensively used, in order to free up airspace so more planes can be accommodated. The south east of England is already (perhaps equal to the area round New York) the most intensely used area of airspace in the world. To fit in another fully used Heathrow runway, space must be found to deal with the extra planes. It is considered as given that expanding air travel is good, and whatever is needed to do this must happen. The effect for those on the ground is likely to mean more narrow flight paths, with high levels of traffic down each. That means potentially very high noise levels for those affected, often for most of each day, on most days. The Committee say without "modernisation" the economy suffers, due to flight delays and business is lost. This ignores the fact that about 70% of Heathrow is leisure passengers. The excuse is also made that fuel is saved by aircraft, in taking the shortest route - which is good, but this cost saving to the airline should be balanced by the social cost of the added plane noise. The Transport Committee consultation ends on 31st March.
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About 1,200 people pack Frankfurt airport Terminal 1 for the 200th Monday protest against noise
At least 1,200 noise protesters gathered at Terminal 1 of Frankfurt airport on 30th January for the 200th of their Monday protests. These have been going on, most Monday evenings, since the 4th runway opened in October 2011. Thousands of people living around the airport find the noise burden to which they are subjected intolerable. One problem was that there was no proper information about flight paths before the runway opened, and the imposition of the noise took many by surprise. On most Mondays at least 300 people attend. Some Mondays there are more. Their demands are that there must be a night flight ban between 10pm and 6am. The noise ceiling should not only be on the paper, but a noticeable reduction in noise. They would like to see the runway closed, but that is not likely to happen. Campaigners say the airport had been built for 40 years, but none of the growth forecasts so far had been fulfilled, and it is now taking low-cost carriers to fill the capacity. They say all trips of under 1,000 kilometres should be made by train, not by air. They say they want an aviation industry that is environmentally responsible, and without subsidies. One speaker at the 200th rally described the current noise as a "terror against the people of the region". Resistance will continue.
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Noise groups consider night flights consultation inadequate, as it fails to balance society costs against economic benefits
Campaigners against unacceptable levels of aircraft noise believe the current night flights consultation is unacceptable, because it prioritises the economic benefits of night flights over the costs to society of noise at night. The groups say people responding to the consultation should point out that the government’s role as regulator is to assess carefully the benefits and costs of night flights and strike an appropriate balance. Setting an objective of “maintaining the existing benefits of night flights” precludes such an assessment: the Government cannot start its options appraisal process by assuming what the answer should be, they say. The groups acknowledge that some of the Government’s proposals are helpful, such as the inclusion of currently exempt aircraft in the limits, and the potential reduction in the total amount of noise that can be generated at night. They believe the Government should implement its proposals for a two-year period only, and commit to carrying out a full assessment of the costs and benefits of night flights in that period. In the longer term the groups believe night flights should be eliminated entirely, as they may be at Heathrow, recognising the increasing evidence that they can have serious health consequences for people overflown. Some advice on how to respond to the consultation – more to follow soon.
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CAGNE listens to residents of West Sussex and Surrey and joins the call for a night ban at Gatwick
The long awaited Department for Transport (DfT) night flight consultation was finally released on 12th January. It is intended the new regime will last for 5 years, and there will be no cut in the number of night flights in this time. There will be minimal, and theoretical, cuts in the quota count (a scoring system based on how noisy planes are). Commenting on the consultation, Sally Pavey, Chair of CAGNE said the deadline for comment of 28th February leaves too little time for residents to respond. The consultation continues to ignore the impact night flights have on people's health. The government should, instead of just looking at economic benefits (largely to airlines) consider the health implications of high levels of noise at night, not allowing enough quiet hours for healthy sleep. Ideally CAGNE, along with other groups, would like to see the consultation halted, and revised to contain measures to genuinely reduce the burden of night flight noise. Instead, the consultation proposes allowing many more flights in the night period, in winter, at Gatwick. Gatwick already has the most night flights. In summer 2016, Heathrow had 2,949 (3,250 allowed), Gatwick had 11,303 (11,200 allowed) and Stansted 7,370 (7,000 allowed). This number of night flights is "simply unacceptable to residents around Gatwick.” They should be phased out, not increased.
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Government’s plans on Heathrow night flights have been slammed by campaigners in Berkshire
Campaigners against Heathrow noise, in Berkshire, have sharply criticised the proposals by the DfT (published on 12th January) to make no effective cuts in the airport's night noise. Local group RAAN (Residents Against Aircraft Noise) say members of the public will be extremely disappointed with the plans. Murray Barter, chairman of RAAN said: “If the government are serious on ending night flights, this is the first test of their sincerity in doing so. The elephants in the room are the many 'unscheduled' night departures that overrun past their scheduled departures which are allowed to continue seemingly unabated and unrestricted throughout the night. ... the 'night' period is curtailed to six and a half hours, which is against the World Health Organisation guidelines of eight hours. ... Nothing within this consultation or regarding Heathrow expansion will alter this for the better.” A carefully worded statement by the minister, Lord Ahmad, attempts to conceal the fact that the plans will do almost nothing to reduce the noise. There are no proposals for anything other than "business as usual". There are no improvements planned for future years - other than changes that might, or might not, happen with a new runway.
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Data from monitors installed by Heathrow confirms A380s are noisier than supposedly “noisier” planes they are replacing
The Teddington Action Group (TAG) has been adamant for several years that they are experiencing excessive noise from A380s overhead, especially take-offs towards the east, and especially late evening and night. TAG has now found that these supposedly "quieter aircraft" are in fact noisier than the planes they are replacing. The data from noise monitors, installed by Heathrow, at the National Physical Laboratory and Strawberry Hill House. The data, (Mar-Sept 2016), shows that "quieter" A380s departing directly over the monitors achieved an average noise of 76.5 decibels, compared to an average of 73.8 dB for "noisier" Boeing 747s. Moreover, TAG has discovered that the CAA and DfT have used "double counting" to manipulate elements of the very same data, so to to create an artificially low noise average for the A380s. Noise has been measured by two monitors and somehow this has been computed together to given an allegedly lower noise reading. TAG says: "The DfT argues that Heathrow expansion is made possible by a new generation of quieter aircraft. It's one thing to learn that this platitude is as fallacious as overflown residents have long known. But quite another to learn that data has been self evidently manipulated by the authorities to shore up the fallacy."
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One noise sufferer’s struggle to cope with the noise burden of Heathrow flights under 3,000 feet overhead
Someone who is now dealing with depression has contacted AirportWatch about the difficulties they have with high levels of Heathrow aircraft noise - living 7-8 miles from the airport. There are flights nearby or overhead at under 3,000 ft, on easterlies. Some extracts from the letter are copied below (with their permission): "We are on Easterly Winds until Sat, meaning we have so much noise to come. I am doing my best to cope, but the thought of this much noise is hard to take. ... It is not fair. ... The thing I loved doing the most has been taking away from me - to be able to sit and read a book or study something new in peace, in my own home. I can't do this anymore. It is so sad, as with the noise, I never will be able to sit in my garden and have dinner in the summer months. I brought my house and it was so lovely and quiet - now this has happened. ... The noise is just getting too much for me. ... Why this the government allowing this to happen? I have no support, no protection. My MP is in favour of a 3rd runway at Heathrow, and is unhelpful. ... I didn't choose to live under this. This government, and earlier governments, have brought this to me. I just can't understand why it is allowed to continue. ... When will it stop?" A letter received from the Dept of Health was unhelpful - just advising visiting the GP ....
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Stop Stansted Expansion says DfT plans on night flights do not go nearly far enough
Following the publication of the DfT's night flight regulation consultation, SSE is urging urging local district, parish and town councils and individual local residents to respond, to try to get the noise impacts of Stansted night-time flights reduced. Stansted currently has permission for 12,000 night flights a year, more than twice as many as are permitted at Heathrow. The 12,000 annual limit applies only to the 6½ hours from 11.30pm to 6.00am whereas the normal definition of 'night' is the 8 hours from 11.00pm to 7.00am. Moreover, a large number of Stansted’s night flights are large, noisy cargo aircraft, many of which are very old. Unsurprisingly, these give rise to a disproportionately high level of noise complaints. SSE welcomes the DfT intention to remove the current exemption for less noisy aircraft and adjust the movements limit accordingly - but the DfT proposes to maintain the present night limit on Stansted aircraft movements. The number of exempt aircraft has been increasing, and they need to be included in totals. SSE wants an unequivocal Government commitment to phase out all night flights at Stansted by 2030, except in the case of genuine emergencies. SSE also wants the annual flight limit to apply, not just from 11.30pm to 6.00am, but from 11.00pm to 7.00am, so that ‘night’ truly means ‘night’.
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New anti-3rd runway group forms in Hammersmith & Fulham, concerned about worse Heathrow impacts
A new campaign group fighting plans for a 3rd Heathrow runway has been formed in Hammersmith and Fulham. The "H&fnothirdrunway" group was formed by concerned local residents Victoria Timberlake and Christina Smyth. Christina was chairman of Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s resident-led commission on airport expansion, which submitted a 56-page report on the 3rd runway proposals to the Airports Commission. The group is urging residents to attend its first public meeting on January 30th, an anyone is welcome to come along, whether they are members or not."It’s time to get involved.” [At Holy Innocents Church, Paddenswick Road, Hammersmith and begins at 7.30pm] Hammersmith and Fulham Council has repeatedly opposed a 3rd Heathrow runway. In July 2015 the Council Leader, Steve Curran said the runway would have an adverse impact overall on the borough. Many local residents already have their sleep shattered by aircraft noise, which could only get worse. There would be extra pressure on our roads and more air pollution. "No amount of mitigation could make this acceptable. “We are urging the government not to support proposals which would be a nightmare for residents and make no financial sense.”
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Chris Grayling’s evidence to the Environmental Audit Cttee on noise – in relation to Heathrow runway
Chris Grayling was questioned by the Environmental Audit Committee on 30th November 2016. Below are the parts of the questions, and answers by Chris Grayling and Caroline Low (DfT) on the subject of noise. Mr Grayling reveals only a very partial understanding of the problems, and of the noise levels - and a somewhat trusting belief in how "quiet" new aircraft are going to be. He says the UK should not impose restrictions on noisy aircraft of developing countries, as it would be unfair on them. He admits that people who currently get "respite" from Heathrow noise will get less, and there will have to be new flight paths - means unknown numbers of people will get noise for the first time, and not a lot of "respite". His aspiration is for no scheduled flights for six and a half hours per night. He believes (mistakenly) that slightly steeper landings would help. He manages to repeat the mantra that despite 50% more flights "noise levels will be lower than they are at the moment." He places unjustified trust in an "independent noise authority (or commission)" sorting out a lot of insoluble noise problems in future. Much that he could not give proper replied to depends on consultations in 2017. He will "look at" the issue of when insulation of affected homes is done - over up to 20 years, rather than right away. A worrying performance, for those affected by Heathrow noise.