Noise News
Below are links to stories about noise in relation to airports and aviation.
Airport officials, CAA and NATS face hundreds of angry residents at CAGNE 2nd AGM
Local campaign group, CAGNE (Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions) held its 2nd AGM on 15th April, attended by around 200 people. Senior spokespeople from Gatwick, NATS and the CAA were invited to speak, but faced angry residents who are not satisfied with what is happening about Gatwick noise issues. During the meeting Bo Redeborn, who headed up the Arrivals Review, confirmed that it had not considered departures - only arrivals. Phil Roberts of the CAA explained how it is seeking greater transparency in airspace changes, having been surprised by the public outcry at various airports due to airspace changes. He confirmed that, (obviously) changes in one area impact airspace in other areas [arrivals and departures]. The CAA hopes that use of PRNAV or PBN (aircraft navigation by ‘satnav’) will improve the noise problem in future. [That is not inevitable, depending how it is used, and is likely to lead to concentrated flight paths, even if those could be varied. Sally Pavey commented that the CAA view of ‘dispersal’ would mean a ‘multitude of concentrated routes’ and not dispersal as people would normally consider it. NATS confirmed that though the LAMP programme, with routes outside current NPRs, has been put on hold, it will return by 2023/2024.
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Heathrow, sounding a bit desperate, might make a comment on night flights “in a few months’ time”
One of the conditions the Airports Commission put on a new Heathrow runway was a ban on night flights, between 11.30pm and 6am. Heathrow has been very unwilling to agree to this, with John Holland-Kaye saying in February that he was yet to “engage” with the government and airlines on the subject. He has also tried to claim there would be fewer night flights with a 3rd runway. Now, as the government is preoccupied with the EU referendum (23rd June) and not considering the runway question, and there has been a lot of negative publicity about Heathrow, John Holland-Kaye (bit of desperation?) is saying the airport may agree to the ban. He said: "We’re consulting with airlines and local communities about how we can deliver what the Airports Commission is asking for. ... We’ll be able to make a solid comment on that in a few months’ time.” But that statement gives no indication of actually getting rid of night flights. It is unclear how consulting local communities is going to get airlines to alter the way they schedule flights, to avoid the night period. Or whether it would mean more flights between 11 - 11.30pm, and more from 6 - 7am, reducing the benefit of the short period without planes. People need more than 6½ hours sleep, so worse noise at the shoulder periods would be little improvement.
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New grouping (APCAG) of Parish Councils south west of Gatwick formed to work on aircraft noise issues
There are a number of groups representing the many areas affected by Gatwick flights, both arrivals and departures. One of the groupings towards the east, in east Sussex and Kent, is the HWCAAG (High Weald Councils Aviation Action Group) which is a grouping of parish councils (Bidborough, Chiddingstone, Dormansland, Hever, Leigh, Penshurst, Sevenoaks Weald and Speldhurst Parish Councils). Now parishes to the west of Gatwick have formed a similar grouping, the APCAG (Association of Parish Councils Aviation Group) which so far has six founder member parishes, (Pulborough, Wisborough Green, Kirdford, Loxwood, Plaistow and Ifold) and it is planned for more to join. APCAG says it hopes to provide a strong and unified representation for its area in discussions with Gatwick, NATS, the CAA, the DfT, and airlines on aircraft noise issues. It hopes that consisting of democratically elected bodies, APCAG’s voice would more likely to be taken account of than a protest group. It chairman is Peter Drummond and its Vice Chairman is Ian Hare. APCAG subscribes to the concept of ‘fair and equitable dispersal’; the principle that, provided noise is minimised, it should be shared around in a fair and predictable manner (not defined) - and where possible flight paths should not be over people not previously overflown.
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Debate in Westminster Hall on the effect of aircraft noise on local communities
Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge & Malling, obtained a Westminster Hall debate on 20th April, on the effect of aircraft noise on local communities. Many MPs spoke, representing the interests and concerns of their constituents at a variety of airports. The Aviation Minister spoke at the end of the debate, though did not manage to answer some of the questions asked. Below are some extracts of the debate - there is also a full transcript. Some of the issues raised were: that the CAA should take account of noise impact many miles out from airports, not only close to them; the serious breakdown in trust of the industry by members of the public due to dishonesty and dissembling; the health problems caused by plane noise; the impact where there is only low ambient noise; changes that will be inevitable if the UK meets its aim of being part of the Single European Sky by 2030; how to find a balance between dispersing routes between a number of corridors or concentrating on a number of routes; fair compensation for those negatively affected; and when the DfT will put out its consultation on future airspace. Tom Tugendhat concluded: If I am honest, I am little disappointed that we have not yet had a better answer on what the words “significantly affected” mean, and that we have not had .... a promise that the CAA and NATS will take into account the communities on the ground."
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Gatwick promises to reduce plane noise (how?) as Forge Wood residents complain it is worse than expected
Forge Wood is a housing development just north east of Crawley and south east of Gatwick airport. They are in an area less than 2 kilometres from the end of the runway. The development was permitted by a decision of the High Court partly based on a statement by Gatwick Airport Ltd in 2010 that they ‘had not a shred of interest in a new runway.’ (That comment had been made by Sir David Rowlands, former Chairman GAL in a speech to Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee in January 2010.) The houses would be right under then flight path, if the 2nd runway was built. The noise is already bad, and one new resident who moved there in October 2015 said the planes are a lot noisier than she anticipated and she wants measures to improve the quality of life for locals. Another resident said: "When we bought our house here we didn't think the noise would be as bad as it is. If we have the window open the noise of the planes stops us from getting to sleep at night and I've been woken up at 4, 5 and 6am. We have a problem with planes both taking off and landing." Strangely the 5,000 or so people who will live in Forge Wood were not included in the Airports Commission's numbers of those to be badly affected by plane noise from a 2nd runway. Or some other new housing developments.
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CAA gives approval to new PBN flight path from Birmingham airport to the south
At the start of April, the CAA approved changes to flight paths at Birmingham Airport, that were deemed necessary because of the runway extension. There were trials of new flight paths to the south in 2014, which generated a lot of anxiety and anger. The opposition was especially strong in the Balsall Common area, where a lot of people were newly overflown. Planes were taking off further south on the longer runway than before the extension, and also landing further south - so were lower on the approach. The CAA considered 2 route options using Performance-based Navigation (PBN) technology, creating narrow, accurately flown paths. The CAA has gone through a long process, and has now approved Option 6, rather than Option 5, and say this has noise impact on fewer residents. The village of Balsall Green will be less impacted by this choice and they campaigned very effectively against the route being over them. But the smaller village of Barston, nearer to the end of the runway, will get relentless noise. The CAA has also instructed the airport to trial the use of Option 5, which is not quite as bad for Barston, for turbo-prop aeroplanes, which are less noisy than jets. Birmingham will do more work on the departure routes to the north, and then formally submit them for approval to the CAA.
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Dublin Airport may buy 40 homes, already badly affected by noise, in bid to step up 2nd runway plans
Dublin airport was given consent for a 2nd runway in 2007, but due to the recession it was not started. There are now plans to start work in 2017, for completion in 2020, though as much has changed in the years since 2007 on the aviation market, questions are asked about whether the original consent should still be valid. Due to the inevitably increased noise from the 2nd runway, it is likely that around 40 houses (mainly in the St Margaret's area 2-3km from the airport) would be bought by the airport, and negotiations are planned. Triple glazed window insulation will probably also be suggested for hundreds of other properties including schools. A spokeswoman for the St Margaret's Concerned Residents Group said the affected 30 home owners in her association are devastated but have no choice. The airport has assessed the level of noise necessitating house purchase based on 90 days of the airport's busiest months from June to September. Residents, some of whom have been in the area for three generations, fear that a 2nd runway, with increasing frequency, growth in long haul services and more larger aircraft Dublin would compound the noise problem. The 40 homes are those affected now. (There would be a whole lot more with a 2nd runway).
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Teddington Action Group find evidence of slower rates of climb of large planes from Heathrow
The Teddington Action Group, formed by communities in the area affected by the noise of Heathrow take-offs towards the east, have been suffering from planes that climb particularly slowly. TAG have done research to show that many planes taking off from Heathrow have some of the lowest lowest climbing rates of any airport in the world. (For example, at 12km from "start of roll," an A380 at 2,200 feet, while at Dubai at 3,900 feet. Or a 777 at 1,600 ft at Heathrow and 3,100 feet at Chicago). The result is more noise from those under Heathrow flight paths. There are required minimum rates of take-off set out in the Heathrow Airport (Noise Abatement Requirements) Notice 2010. The requirements are that planes climb to 1,000 feet by 6.5 kilometres from the “start of roll”. Once they reach 6.5 kilometres from start of roll, planes are required to climb at a rate of not less than 4% or 1 in 25. But these rates of climb are so low and out of date that even a World War II Lancaster Bomber fully loaded could make that. TAG wants the regulations to be changed so that all aircraft must attain at least 2,500’ [up from 1,000’] by 6.5 kilometres from start of roll; and that thereafter all aircraft must keep climbing at a rate of at least 12% [up from 4%] until 6,000’ [up from 4,000’]
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On final day of public inquiry, HACAN East wins concession on noise insulation for residents, if expansion allowed
On the last day - 5th April - of the Public Inquiry into London City Airport’s expansion plan, local residents group HACAN East won an important concession. This requires Newham Council to hold a council meeting each year to explain how it is overseeing City Airport’s commitment to provide sound insulation for local residents, if the expansion plans are approved. In the past Newham Council has not ensured done this. The result of the Inquiry is expected to be known in the summer. The Planning Inspector will make a recommendation to the Government, which will make a final decision on permission. If the airport does expand, it will build a new taxiway to accommodate larger planes. HACAN East is opposed to the expansion, but relieved that Newham Council will be held publicly accountable for enforcing the airport's commitments. In its closing statement, HACAN East repeated its concerns about the insufficient noise mitigation measures promised to communities living within the 66db, 63db and 57db LAeq contours; the lack of any new measures to assist those outside the 57db LAeq contour; and the the absence of any work to assess the cumulative impact of London City and Heathrow aircraft on the many communities overflown by both airports.
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Teddington Action Group TAG gets response from Department of Health re. its input on health effects of aviation
The Teddington Action Group (TAG) is very active in opposing the recently intensified level of noise they experience from Heathrow flights. They recently asked the Department of Health what role they have in assessing the impact of aviation noise on public health and whether they have any influence over the Government’s aviation policy, which is developed by the DfT. The Dept of Health (in its not very reassuring response) said it is Public Health England (PHE) that provides advice and input into noise related health matters for the Department of Health, including aviation policy. PHE worked with the DfT on the Survey of Noise Attitudes 2014 (a field study investigating noise attitudes of people living close to airports) – PHE is represented on the project board that oversees the methodology and overall progress. PHE is steering the Health Impact Assessment process for the Airport Capacity Appraisal of Sustainability. On the Night Flight Restrictions consultation – PHE is providing ad-hoc advice to DfT on the evidence base. PHE has not yet had any involvement with the design of the Government’s Future Airspace Strategy. TAG asked about proper assessment of health impacts, and PHE said it plans to continue its engagement with the DfT by providing evidence-based advice and promote research especially on "interventions to protect and improve health."