Noise News
Below are links to stories about noise in relation to airports and aviation.
New study by Queen Mary University, London, indicates possible long-term effects of aircraft noise on children’s cognition
Research into the impact of noise on children have carried out a new study to follow up a study done between 2001 and 2003 into the impact of noise from road traffic and aircraft on children aged 9 - 10. That was called the RANCH study (Road traffic noise and Aircraft Noise exposure and children’s Cognition and Health). The new study, carried out in 2008, wanted to assess the effects of noise over time on cognition. The study did indicate that levels of aircraft noise experienced in primary schools might affect aspects of children’s cognition, even several years after they have left the primary school - even taking socio-economic factors into account. The study looked at the same children aged 15-16 years old, who had attended noisier primary schools six years earlier. They found aircraft noise was more disturbing or annoying to these children than to controls, even after accounting for aircraft noise at their current school.
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London First suggests an independent ombudsman is needed to deal with aircraft noise in London
London First is the business organisation that aims to "make London the best city in the world in which to do business" and which supports expanding London airport capacity, especially at Heathrow. It has produced a new short report called "More Flights, Less Noise" which recommends that, in order to get more flights over London, there should be a noise pollution tsar, to protect people living under flight paths. They say an independent noise ombudsman, with a range of powers including the ability to fine an airline that persistently broke noise pollution limits, would address a “basic lack of trust and transparency” between those pressing the economic case for airport expansion and local communities. London First say a similar scheme running in Paris since 2000 has been successful. Their hope of there being less noise stems from slight improvements by modern planes on aircraft noise. However, in reality the improvements are very small and these are more than outweighed if there are more flights. Communities being well informed about the noise is no substitute for reducing it.
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Heathrow launches a “Fly Quiet” programme + quarterly “Fly Quiet” table – in a bid to reduce opposition on noise grounds
Heathrow airport has launched its ‘Fly Quiet programme’ which will produce a "Fly Quiet" table 4 times per year, ranking the 50 airlines that use the airport most on various noise measures. The airlines are listed according to six noise related criteria. These are given a red/amber/green rating for each criterion, as well as an overall score. The criteria are: Noise quota count/seat/movement, which adjusts noise according to seat capacity and movements per airline; the noise certification Chapter number; the number of Continuous Descent Approach violations; the number of track deviations on departure; the number of arrivals before their 4.30am slot, and those arriving before their 6am landing slot. Heathrow says it will work closely with airlines to improve their rating - it knows that noise will be the issue on which their bid for a new runway will fail, so are attempting to overcome opposition on noise grounds. The terminology of "quiet" planes, rather than "less noisy" planes is part of the PR spin. These planes are not "quiet" in any normal sense. Fractionally less noisy would be a better description.
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Verdict on Heathrow runways Operational Freedoms trial – a ‘lot of pain for very little gain’
Campaigners against Heathrow expansion have said tests on using runways more intensively had been “a lot of pain for very little gain”. It follows an official verdict - by the CAA - that experiments carried out into methods of speeding up take-offs and landings had been “inconclusive”. John Stewart, of Hacan, said: “It appears that these trials brought little benefit to the airport. But they did deprive residents of their much-valued half-day’s break from the noise. To bring them back would be a lot of pain for very little gain.” Heathrow is seeking operational freedoms to make itself more resilient to disruptions. The two sets of trials held last year and in early 2012 failed to show clear-cut benefits, leading the CAA to conclude: “It is extremely difficult to reach any strong conclusions on the benefit or otherwise of the trial.” There had been a surge in complaints during the tests. Aviation minister Robert Goodwill has asked the Airports Commission to make a recommendation on the operational freedoms in its interim report in December.
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On Monday, opponents of the Frankfurt 4th runway celebrated the 2nd anniversary of their weekly protests
At Frankfurt, the Monday evening protests continue. They have just had, on Monday 21st, the second anniversary of the start of the protests. There have been so far a total of 75 Monday evening airport protests, and 19 vigils. Some of the terminal protests (German airport terminals are deemed to be public property, so people cannot legally be prevented from gathering there) had over 1,000 people. This week it was perhaps 250, but still noisy and determined. Residents now suffering aircraft noise, and an incomplete night fight ban say Fluglarm macht krank (aircraft noise makes you sick) and fear they are not only unproductive at work, and stressed, but also suffering health impacts from the noise and disturbed sleep. They are deeply opposed to the proposed plans to build a third airport terminal, which they say is not needed, and which would only contribute to pressure for yet more flights. Asian travellers passing through the airport are reported to be amazed and bemused, and take photos of the protests to send back home to their friends and family. Local politicians know the airport, and any expansion, is a toxic issue for voters.
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GACC warns that new flight paths proposed by NATS and Gatwick airport could affect thousands around Gatwick
GACC has reacted strongly to proposals to revamp many of the existing flight paths around Gatwick , which have been put forward for consultation jointly by NATS and Gatwick Airport Ltd. These plans, which are nothing to do with a 2nd runway, include new flight paths over areas which are at present peaceful – in order to increase the number of aircraft able to use the runway; more concentrated flight paths based on more accurate aircraft navigation, which will effectively make life hell for many people affected; a major reform of the pattern of aircraft queuing up to land, which will bring aircraft noise to many areas currently not affected; and the possibility of ‘respite’ by using two flight paths on alternate days. This consultation includes nothing to show where the new flight paths might be. Instead it is couched in general terms, asking people to comment on broad concepts. There are no maps, and it is apparently intended that no maps will be produced until after the end of the consultation, and NATS and Gatwick do not intend to hold a second consultation. GACC is advising its members to study the new consultation and to express their views forcefully.
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Threat of a new Gatwick runway: bad for your health – and for your wealth
New research from Imperial College and King's College, published last week, has found that deaths from stroke, heart and circulatory disease are significantly higher in areas with high levels of aircraft noise than in places with the least noise. The research compared data on day- and night-time aircraft noise with hospital admissions and mortality rates of 3.6 million people living near Heathrow. Though there are fewer people living under the flight-paths at Gatwick, the number at risk may be just as great because the lower background noise makes the noise impact worse. The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) says Councils and MPs have a duty of care for the health of the residents that they represent; that means not exposing them to more noise. Could local hospitals cope with these additional pressures of a new runway? The damage that poor sleep does to performance at work would also not help local businesses. The prospect of a new runway would mean house prices depressed in an area that could include over 10,000 home owners. Blight due to runway plans can cause anxiety about not being able to sell one’s house, and can lead people into acute depression.
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Richmond may have the highest life expectancy in the country (and high affluence) but health still damaged by aircraft noise
Research came out a few days ago, both from Imperial College and from researchers in the USA, to say that living with aircraft noise appears to cause an increase of up to 20% in stroke, heart and circulatory disease. In a blog, John Stewart looks at the retort from backers of expansion at Heathrow that one borough that is partly overflown - Richmond - has recently come out top in figures for the longest "healthy life expectancy" (HLE) for the country. "Back Heathrow" may try to imply this fact questions the medical data on exposure to noise. In reality, as has been know for many years, Richmond is one of the most affluent boroughs in London; it has 13 of the richest wards in London; its population in 2001 was 91% White, 9% BME; it has very low deprivation; high employment and high educational standards. ie. it is a very affluent borough, with consequent high levels of health. As John's blog indicates, that does not in any way discredit the high quality research done by Imperial College. Only part of the borough is directly under the approach flight paths from the east, and the impact of aircraft noise may be well masked by the overall very high health - and privilege - of the borough's population
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Tests at Frankfurt airport of steeper approach path at 4.5 degrees – details awaited
It has been reported that there have been some test flights of planes at Frankfurt airport, using steeper approaches. This is in order to try and reduce the amount of noise suffered by people living under the flight paths. At Frankfurt there have been sustained and massive protests, almost weekly, since the opening of the new runway, as people have been furious about the noise to which they are subjected. The trials took place on 17th September and involved a Boeing 767 which made 7 practice landings using an approach slope of 4.5 degrees, rather than the usual 3 degrees. It seemed that there was little change in the noise reported in places less than 6 or more kilometres from the runway, but there may be some benefit for those further away. A report to the UK Parliament Transport Select Committee earlier this year gave details, from BALPA, of the practical difficulties for pilots of trying to land on a 5.5 degree slope, rather than the 3 degrees, for which most commercial planes are designed.
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Der Spiegel article: “Screaming for Quiet – Germans Crank Up Anti-Noise Protests”
An article in the German paper, Der Spiegel, says many Germans are getting fed up with all the noise pollution coming from planes, trains and cars. Despite numerous studies warning of associated health risks, politicians are merely giving lip service to the worries. The victims of rail noise in the Rhine Valley have teamed up with victims of airport noise in the Frankfurt region, and they are now calling for joint demonstrations in their respective state capitals. As well as the almost weekly protests against noise in the Frankfurt airport departure hall, citizens are also staging frequent protests against aircraft noise in Berlin, Cologne and Leipzig, as well as along the flight path into Zurich Airport. There are also protests against road noise. People are no longer willing to accept so much noise. Though it is now not in doubt that noise has health impacts, there remains uncertainty about how much noise is harmful and what the consequences are. But politicians, though starting to acknowledge the issue, continue to only make non-specific promises that there will be improvements. Nothing imminent.