1. Aircraft Noise Issues Tim Johnson Director, AEF Aviation Environment Federation www.aef.org.uk Sustainable New Homes and Sound Insulation Conference, Birmingham, 31 October 2006

2. AEF … is the principal environmental association in the UK concerned specifically with all the environmental effects of aviation; established in 1975, membership comprises over 100 organisations representing local government, community and environmental organisations, and others. actively works with government, the European Commission and Parliament, ECAC and ICAO. co-ordinates the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA) www.aef.org.uk

3. Aircraft noise … Perception that aircraft noise has not improved, due, in part, to the significant increase in number of noise events Emerging evidence that more people are annoyed at lower noise levels Night noise remains a particular problem Airspace management emerging as key issue

4. Noise trends …

5. Air Transport White Paper National demand: 200 million passengers in 2003 rising to between 400 and 600 million by 2030. More than half of the total UK demand that is forecast for 2030 is for airports in the South East On balance, 2 new runways will be needed in the South East over the next three decades: a wide-spaced second runway at Stansted a third runway at Heathrow if stringent environmental limits can be met (Gatwick safeguarded for possible development post-2019) Other new runways at Birmingham and in Scotland.

6. Air Transport White Paper – Aircraft Noise The increases in airport capacity envisaged by this White Paper need to be matched by stringent measures to control noise – most delivered locally, but within an overall national and international framework: Our basic aim is to limit and, where possible, reduce the number of people in the UK significantly affected by aircraft noise. This is a challenging objective ….

7. Air Transport White Paper – Aircraft Noise Meet challenge by relying on: Promoting R&D, such as support for ACARE targets The balanced approach - reduction at source, land use planning, operational procedures and restrictions Implementing EU Directive 2002/49/EC Retaining and where necessary strengthening regulation by central Government (includes Civil Aviation Bill provision to set noise contour limits) Widening use of economic instruments

8. Air Transport White Paper – Aircraft Noise With immediate effect we expect the airport operators to: assist with the costs of relocating above 69dBA Leq insulation for noise-sensitive buildings above 63dBA Leq Future: offer to purchase above 69 dBA Leq or if 3dBA change.

9. Air Transport White Paper – Stansted Number of people affected by aircraft noise (000s) above 57 Leq 2015 2030 Max use of existing runway56 With a second runway814 Size of area enclosed by the 57 Leq contour (km2) 2015 2030 Max use of existing runway4350 With a second runway79 127

10. Air Transport White Paper – Heathrow White paper Heathrow guarantee: to take all practicable steps to prevent any deterioration in the noise climate around the airport, and to continue efforts to do everything practicable to improve the noise climate over time Interpreted by Government as: … no net increase in the total area of the 57dBA noise contour compared with summer 2002, a contour area of 127 sq km.

11. Air Transport White Paper – Heathrow Number of people affected by aircraft noise (000s) above 57 Leq 2015 2030 Max use of existing (480,000)226278 With a third runway333332 Size of area enclosed by the 57 Leq contour (km2) 2015 2030 Max use of existing (480,000)110130 With a third runway156 153

12. Air Transport White Paper – Gatwick Number of people affected by aircraft noise (000s) above 57 Leq 2015 Max use of existing6 Second wide-spaced runway21 Size of area enclosed by the 57 Leq contour (km2) 2030 Max use of existing63 Second wide-spaced runway102

13. Air Transport White Paper – Luton No of people affected by aircraft noise (000s) > 57 Leq 2030 Base case6 Southern runway19 Realigned runway14 Size of area enclosed by the 57 Leq contour (km2) 2030 Max use of existing18 Second wide-spaced runway49 Realigned runway47

14. Airspace Changes Significant reorganisation of UK airspace New flight paths CAA consulting on improved consultation procedure

15. Implications for new homes Noise contours likely to expand at many UK airports – effective insulation? New flight paths Safeguarded land Industry seeking greater Government control over encroachment from new development