Civil Aviation Authority: Noise Envelopes
This review provides information in response to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Aviation Policy Framework (APF). The overall aim is to inform the definition of a noise envelopes concept which can be applied to airports looking to increase their capacity, which:
- is aligned with the Government’s overall noise policy;
- helps achieves a balance between growth and noise reduction; and
- incentivises noise reduction at source through airline fleet evolution.
As part of this, the study addresses how the noise envelope concept might be used.
The key characteristics that the Civil Aviation Authority believe an envelope should have are listed, and ideas presented on how a noise envelope could be defined, principally in terms of measurable parameters grouped according to whether they restrict inputs, noise exposure or noise impact. The variation in noise impacts depending on the time of day that aviation activity occurs is also addressed.
Having considered the parameters, approaches for setting their limits to control the noise produced by the associated airport are addressed. This is done in the context of sharing the benefits of quieter aircraft technology, providing assurance to stakeholders, a framework for periodic review of a noise envelope, and the ways in which the limit requirements may differ from one airport to another.
The report then considers the process of implementing a noise envelope, including obtaining agreement from stakeholders, how a noise envelope might be applied within current legislation and the Government’s role in the implementation.
Finally, once an envelope is in place, consideration is given to operational aspects such as how compliance with the limits is monitored and enforced. The report then introduces the concept of a local monitoring and enforcement plan.
Throughout the study, illustrative examples are provided of where some of the ideas have already been put into practice.
The key conclusions and messages arising from this study are as follows:
- For an envelope to function as intended, it is essential that full agreement is achieved between all stakeholders on the envelope’s criteria, limit values and means of implementation and enforcement.
- The benefits of future technological improvements must be shared fairly between industry and local communities. This is fundamental to the noise envelope concept, and will be considered when defining parameters and setting limits.
- An envelope is likely to be defined by a combination of parameters.
- The life-span of an envelope must be agreed, and its parameters defined to maintain appropriate sharing of the benefits over its intended life-span.
- The parameters and limits, and means of implementation and enforcement of a noise envelope must be tailored to individual airports and their respective local conditions.
- The current planning system offers limited flexibility in the means available to implement a noise envelope. A change in primary or secondary legislation may be required for noise envelopes to be implemented effectively and enforceable by law.
- A possible need has been identified for independent third parties to assist stakeholders to reach agreement where necessary