Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Aircraft noise, community relations
and stakeholder involvement
Callum Thomas and Martin Lever
I
NTRODUCTION
It is widely accepted that the most significant local environment impact associated
with the operation of airports arises from the noise generated by aircraft. Over the
past 40 years, very significant improvements in airframe and engine technology have
been achieved, as manufacturers and airlines have seen commercial advantages in
improving noise performance. International regulation by the world body for avia-
tion - the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - has supported this
by setting noise targets for future aircraft types and programmes for the phase-out of
operations by older, noisier aircraft. As a consequence, despite a very significant increase
in air traffic, the number of people exposed to high levels of noise disturbance has
actually reduced around major airports over the last 10 to 20 years. However, poor
land-use planning in many countries and a failure to prevent urban encroachment
upon airports have negated the benefits of improved technology, with the result that
millions of people living near airports and their approach and departure routes con-
tinue to be exposed on a daily basis to high levels of aircraft noise.
Three important factors are exacerbating the level of disturbance faced by these
people. The first relates to the fact that while the noise of individual aircraft move-
ments has declined, traffic has increased, with the result that the balance of nuisance
at some larger airports is moving away from the disturbance caused by each aircraft
to the frequency with which people are overflown. The second, as explained below,
relates to the fact that, given new noise certification regulations recently announced
by the ICAO and the anticipated rates of growth in the industry, noise exposure
around many airports is likely to grow in the future. The third factor is linked to the
fact that disturbance is a subjective issue that is related to perception or tolerance of
