Aircraft noise
People who live close to airports or under flight paths can be significantly affected by noise from the airport.
Most airport related noise is generated by aircraft approaching and taking-off, taxiing along runways, and during engine testing.
As Heathrow's owner, we are committed to limiting the impacts of noise on communities around the airport. Our approach to managing noise impacts around Heathrow is described in Towards a sustainable Heathrow - A focus on noise. Detailed information on our approach to managing noise is available through our noise website.
We support the strengthening of aircraft noise standards through, for example, our membership of the industry group, Airports Council International.
As an incentive for airlines to use newer, quieter planes, we charge the noisiest planes up to three times the standard landing fee, and give the quietest ones a 15% discount.
To discourage the use of noisy, on-board auxiliary power units (used to provide power and air conditioning while planes are stationary), nearly all aircraft stands are fitted with electricity connections and around a fifth can provide a supply of pre-conditioned air. [Aircraft on the Ground]
We reduce noise from engine testing by restricting the location, duration and timing of tests.
We alternate the use of runways for landing and departures, so local residents have predictable periods of relief from aircraft noise, and limit aircraft movements at night.
We engage with communities and local authorities to better understand their noise concerns and priorities.
We keep people up to date through our dedicated noise website and regular reports, and offer compensation schemes developed in consultation with local communities.
Our strategy
We are required to publish a Noise Action Plan as part of a European Union Directive. View heathrowairport.com/noise following its adoption by the UK Government in May 2011.
We aim to manage Heathrow’s noise impacts through the following objectives:
1. Reduce noise impacts wherever practicable
Goal: Establish the quietest fleet practicable: at least 97 per cent of movements to be by Chapter 4 (or equivalent) aircraft and zero movements by marginally compliant Chapter 3 aircraft by 2015.
Key actions
- Engage airline partners on the voluntary phase out of noisiest ( marginally compliant Chapter 3) aircraft by 2015
Goal: Establish the quietest fleet practicable: Establish the quietest fleet practicable: establish an airline league table of overall adherence to the Noise Abatement Procedures contained within the Aeronautical Information Publication by 2012
Key actions
- Commission a report on the noise performance of the A380 aircraft
- Request that the Department for Transport undertake a review of the departure noise limit restrictions regime
- Review the fining levels for breaches of the departure noise limits
- Develop a schedule for the changes necessary to implement the ending of the Cranford Agreement
- Together with our partners in Sustainable Aviation, develop a best practice guide to optimise operational noise & emissions performance for ground operations and departing aircraft
- Complete the positioning of permanent noise monitors to record noise levels for departures from our Northern runway towards Cranford (09L).
Goal: Offer effective and credible noise mitigation schemes: invite all eligible households/noise sensitive buildings to participate by 2013 and process all eligible applications for home relocation assistance within two weeks of move completion
Key actions
- Undertake a review of our existing noise insulation schemes
Goal: The 2015 actual Annual 55Lden noise contour area to be comparable with the 2015 forecast undertaken in 2010
Key actions
- Undertake a review of our existing noise insulation schemes
2. Better understand the concerns and priorities of communities affected by noise
Goal: Be considered by independent professional consultants to be the leading major airport operator for noise related communication by 2015, using a benchmarking methodology supported by the Noise and Track Keeping Working Group.
Key actions
- Establish a Community Noise and Track Monitoring programme
- Establish an independent audit process to verify our annual noise action plan progress report
3. Influence planning policy to minimise the number of noise sensitive properties around our airports
4. Organise ourselves to continue to manage noise efficiently and effectively
Goal: Publish Heathrow’s Noise Action Plan, and ensure at least 90 per cent of actions are considered to be on track
2011 Target
To have at least 90% of the actions in the Heathrow Noise Action Plan described as “on track or complete” by independent auditors for 2011
5. Achieve a full understanding of aircraft noise to inform our priorities, strategies and targets
Goal: Support work to better understand the interdependencies of aircraft operations management through participation in groups such as Airports Council International, Sustainable Aviation and Omega
Key actions
- Commission a supplementary noise metric study that will inform the approach to describe our noise impact.
- Working with members of the NTKWG we will commission research by independent consultants to benchmark internationally our ranking on operational noise management with other comparable airports
