Although a draft noise action plan was drafted, it has not yet been agreed with stakeholders in the specified time frame. This is because the guidelines from DEFRA had not been published in time. We are expecting these in 2008 and will publish the draft noise action plan later this year.

Departure noise infringements
There were a total of 232 noise infringements in 2007 – 221 of these occurred in the ‘night period’. A total of £124,500 was raised as a result of these fines which will be distributed to fund projects in the local community.

Track keeping
Aircraft departing from Heathrow are required to follow flight paths known as ‘Noise Preferential Routes’. These routes were set by the Government many years ago. Air Traffic Control makes sure that pilots stay on these flight paths until they reach 4,000ft. Once they reach this height they can direct them off the route towards their destination. These routes are three kilometres wide. Providing aircraft are within this three kilometres corridor while under 4,000 feet they are said to be “on-track”.

Using our Noise and Track Keeping System (NTK), BAA Heathrow monitors the track-keeping of aircraft on a continuous basis.

Track keeping has continued to improve and is now over 97%. However as we approach the optimum numbers of departures on-track, year-on-year improvements are more difficult to achieve. It is important to note that aircraft are more regularly directed off the easterly ‘Compton’ route under 4,000ft  for safety reasons. This is due to the proximity of the route to inbound aircraft from holding positions (stacks) located to the south and south east of the Airport and to landing aircraft on final approach from the west. The overall percentage of aircraft on-track is therefore reduced when this figure is included in the total.

Annual percentage of aircraft on track

Engine tests
We have created special noise-protected areas, called engine ground-run pens. These are for engine testing. This year the total run time for aircraft engine tests at night has decreased again, as has the number of runs.

Arrivals noise

Continuous descent approach (CDA)
This procedure is used by pilots on approach to Heathrow to reduce the noise heard on the ground. Use of CDA has remained constant at 92% for the past few years. The remaining 8% represents just 1.25 aircraft per night so it is unlikely we can raise this figure any higher.

Aircraft noise at night
The government has set strict controls on aircraft flying at night at Heathrow to limit aircraft noise. We not only monitor night flights on a continuous basis, but also actively manage them to ensure compliance with these restrictions. Detailed reports are supplied regularly to both the DfT and the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC).

In 2007 security threats and severe weather conditions caused disruption to many flights at Heathrow, resulting in delays and an increase in the number of aircraft operating at night. However, neither the night flight restrictions nor the noise quota limits were breached at any time.

Community noise monitoring
Our community noise monitoring study is continuing, using four of BAA’s mobile noise monitors. The study  has established baseline noise measurements, which will be re-measured over a number of years in view of future possible changes to Heathrow operations. In the last two years, both arrivals and departures have been monitored covering both summer and winter. Over the next few years the monitors will return to the original arrivals and departures sites in alternate years to build up data over time.

Ground noise – GPUs
Ground Power Units or GPUs are small diesel powered generators that can only be used to power aircraft on the stands where Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP) is not available. This uses silent mains electrical supply. We continue to monitor the use of GPUs and FEGP availability, ensuring that we minimise the use of GPUs wherever possible. New operation safety instructions (OSIs) due to be implemented place even tighter controls on GPU usage. There is a surcharge payable on any infringements of the OSI's.

Noise enquiries
In 2007 we launched a new website for people who want to know more about aircraft noise, which includes a new WebTrak facility. This was part of BAA’s £1.8 million upgrade to the noise and track keeping systems at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. As well as monitoring airport’s compliance with noise restrictions, the new system helps us keep local residents better informed of what we are doing to minimise aircraft noise.

The new WebTrak feature enables users to view flight tracks of aircraft over their area that are arriving and departing from Heathrow. The flight data is delayed between 24 and 48 hours for security reasons. People can also make a noise complaint or enquiry using an online system that helps us respond more efficiently. For more information, please see section on aircraft noise.

Residents’ issues and concerns
The number of complaints received reduced slightly this year to 5,397 this year from 5,734 in 2006. Regular callers account for a large percentage of complaints. In 2007, 37% came from just five callers and 53% came from the top 20. 17% of complaints came from just one person and 24% from the top two. In addition to complaints, 395 people contacted us for general information. We received 22 complaints relating to ground noise this year.

Community assistance schemes
We provide a number of schemes for local residents and other community groups that mitigate against aircraft noise.

Home relocation assistance scheme
This year we received 71 registrations (281 to date) and have paid 58 applicants a total of £432,000 in 2007 (£1.65 million to date).

Community building noise insulation scheme (CBNIS)
16 Buildings have been prioritised to date. The Board are continuing with their assessment of the insulation requirements for each building and deciding how to best address ventilation issues.

Residential noise insulation scheme
Approximately 200 homes received noise insulation during 2007. This was in the form of loft insulation, ventilation and double/secondary glazing to windows.

We continue to offer insulation to those homes within the scheme’s boundary that have not yet taken up the invitation for any form of insulation from the scheme.

Vortex protection scheme
The vortex assesor carried out 289 inspections following calls to our 24-hour vortex protection hotline. There were 96 confirmed vortex strikes. Some 93 properties were re-roofed.

More information
Readers should also refer to the BAA’s Corporate Responsibility Report for more detailed information on BAA’s policies relating to noise.

Issues and approach
Our plans