Aircraft noise is an important issue for the local community, and its effective management is an important part of our ability to develop in a responsible way. Aircraft are becoming progressively quieter for their size and carrying capacity, and we are working in partnership with our airline partners to make further progress in managing the noise impacts of their operations.

Noise is created largely from aircraft approaching or taking off from the airport and from ground noise such as taxiing aircraft or engine testing.

Our aim is to work towards gaining the trust of the local community by using all practical means to minimise existing aircraft noise impacts. A key part of our approach is to continue to find the best possible aircraft routeings for the majority of people, through Noise Preferred Routeing Trials. However, due to airspace and safety reasons the airport has limited ability to change some aircraft routes. This is particularly true in relation to areas close to either end of the runway. 

We manage noise impacts on our local community on an ongoing basis using the following controls:

• No scheduled night flights
• Noise preferred routeings for aircraft
• Ban on noisier types of aircraft
• Strictly limited helicopter movements
• Strictly limited aircraft training movements
• Strict limits on aircraft engine testing
• Strict limits on ground running of aircraft engines
• Ongoing working with airline partners to encourage the use of quieter aircraft
• Noise contour modelling
• Noise and Flight Evaluation service to investigate enquiries and take appropriate action

• A dedicated Community Comment Line and email address for members of the public to report an aircraft which has caused a disturbance
• Each individual complaint is recorded on a database, and presented to the Southampton Airport Consultative Committee for review three times a year
  Complaints are investigated using our track monitoring equipment, where possible, and individually responded to. The aim of the Unit is to investigate and reply to all enquiries within five working days
  Home visits are offered to some individuals to help their understanding of noise or routeing issues which have not been previously resolved
• Some individuals are invited to the airport to meet with members of the management team to discuss their particular concerns.

On the whole, the aircraft types operating at our airport are modern regional aircraft, and are much quieter than the large wide-bodied aircraft that operate out of major hub airports. Despite this, we actively encourage our airline partners to minimise noise disturbance wherever possible. Flybe’s introduction of new Embraer 195 aircraft, during 2007 has brought a reduction in noise as the noise levels of this aircraft are up to 35% lower than the BAe146 aircraft it replaces.