Aircraft noise continues to be a main source of concern to local communities and one that we see as a priority. Aircraft today are significantly quieter than they were 30 years ago, but there are more of them, which has offset these reductions in noise for many of our residents. Communities are affected by noise from aircraft moving around the airport, as well as taking off and landing. Early morning arrivals can be particularly disturbing for people at night. It is our responsibility, along with NATS, the Government and airlines to minimise the disturbance from aircraft noise.

Our approach

The Government has direct control over noise at Heathrow (and Gatwick and Stansted), and therefore our approach is necessarily determined by Government policy. We also work closely with National Air Traffic Services, airlines and representatives of local residents to continue to find and use the best practicable means to minimise noise impacts on our local communities. These include encouraging the use of quieter aircraft through differerential landing charges; fining airlines that breach the noise limits and restrictions designed to control noise and offering community assistance schemes to mitigate against aircarft noise.

DfT study into attitudes to noise in England (ANASE )
In November 2007 the Department for Transport published Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources in England (ANASE), an aircraft noise study commissioned in 2002. ANASE aimed to reassess Laeq as a measure of annoyance and to determine the financial value of noise. For more information see aircraft noise. A full copy of the report with peer reviewers comments can be found at www.dft.gov.uk.

The independent peer reviewers concluded that the ANASE results were not sufficiently robust to develop Government policy on measurement and finacial valuation of noise impacts. Current Government aircraft noise assesments are based on 57 decibels, averaged over 16 hours (known as 57 dBA leq). Following the recommendations of the peer reviewers, the Government has concluded that the ANASE findings are not robust enough to change its 57 dBA leq criterion.

We recognise that the ANASE report is an important step forward in further understanding people’s attitudes to aircraft noise, and that more work is needed to follow up on its findings. We will reflect on the reports findings when developing our noise action plan, strategies and objectives.

Our performance
Our plans