Aircraft noise plea
02 / 03 / 2015
MORE people in the UK are affected by aviation noise than any other country in Europe, reveals the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The regulatory body, which is calling on the aviation industry to address the problem more efficaciously, has published a series of recommendations in a document entitled: Managing Aviation Noise.
The paper covers changes airports and carriers can implement almost immediately, as well as suggestions for policy-makers and industry chiefs ahead of any future increases in capacity.
It also focuses on airports working with their local communities more closely and proffers ideas for “incentivising airlines to reduce the noise impact of their flights”.
One of the main recommendations is ensuring that airports considering expansions make sure that residents see the benefits from the proposed additional capacity – “whether through funding community schemes, direct payments, or tax breaks”.
The UK’s Airports Commission is currently examining rival proposals from Heathrow and Gatwick airports for new runway capacity.
Heathrow wants a third runway, generating “at least £100bn of UK economic benefits”, whilst Gatwick seeks to build a second runway, which its owners argue will produce an extra £40bn of economic benefits to Heathrow’s proposal.
Iain Osborne, group director for regulatory policy at the CAA, argues: “Very many people in the UK are already affected by aviation noise and it’s clear that unless the industry tackles this issue more effectively, it won’t be able to grow.
“The recommendations we’re making will help the industry to reduce and mitigate its noise impact, whilst also making sure the communities affected by aircraft noise are fairly compensated and feel much more involved in the way their airport operates.”
Osborne believes the measures could make a real difference to people living near airports, as well as “ensure any future decisions on aviation capacity increases take full account of the impact of aviation noise on people’s quality of life.”
