What BAA is doing about noise

We at BAA, the Government, airlines, Air Traffic Control, aircraft and engine manufacturers have all been listening to people who are bothered by noise. There’s a lot we have already done and are still doing about it.

So far, the four main things we have been able to do as an industry are:

1. Designing airframes and engines to reduce noise at source.
2. Tightening the regulations on noise.
3. Improving the way planes and airports operate.
4. Providing noise insulation and compensation for people who experience high levels of noise.

We have also introduced a number of schemes following consultations with local stakeholders on noise.

Fines for noisy planes.
BAA has a network of noise monitors around each airport to monitor the noise from planes.
Planes that break the noise limits on departure at specific locations are fined by BAA: £500 for the first 3 decibels over the limit and £1,000 above that.

Heathrow doesn’t keep any of the money we raise from the fines. Instead we use it to improve the local noise climate – such as giving noise insulation to local schools.