Background Informations Air Traffic Noise
Air traffic noise is today recognised as one of the biggest environmental pollutants in the proximity of airports. At present air traffic noise protection is concerned mainly with progressive noise limit values for aircraft established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) taking into account the advances in noise abatement technology. Depending on the type, number and weight of the engines, new aircraft have to comply with certain noise limit values. Thanks to improved engine technology modern aircraft cause much less noise than older, comparable models.
In Volume 1, Part II, Chapter 4 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) established a new, stricter maximum value for noise. In Germany, however, most of the aircraft used already fulfil these requirements.
The 33rd ICAO general meeting passed the resolution A33/7, which introduces the principle of a “balanced approach” for noise protection, thus creating a procedural concept for air traffic noise abatement which includes international guidelines for operational restrictions on individual airports.
The “balanced approach” in the fight against air traffic noise includes four main elements and requires a careful examination of the various noise abatement possibilities including the reduction of air traffic noise at source, measures for land usage planning and administration, noise-reducing operational procedures and operational restrictions notwithstanding the relevant legal obligations, existing agreements, applicable laws and established strategies.
The amended version of the air traffic noise act from 1971 became effective in June 2007. It is aimed at providing better protection for people who live near airports. Compared with the air traffic noise act from 1971, the limit values for passive noise abatement were reduced by 10 to 15 decibels. For the first time a night protection zone with specific legal consequences must also be verified. The new law also provides for a predictive approach to settlement planning in the surroundings of the airport. It has also created legal and planning security. The amended air traffic noise act will lead to increased investments in the coming years in the sound insulation of buildings. In the case of existing residential buildings and facilities worthy of protection in the day protection zone 1 and in the night protection zone, the respective airport operators will be liable for the costs.
On 31.10.2007 the applicable version of the law on the protection against air traffic noise was newly announced. In two legal directives the provisions of the amended air traffic noise act were expressed in more concrete terms. The 1st air traffic noise protection directive dated 27 December 2008 governs the details of data registration on air traffic operations and the calculation method for the establishment of the noise protection zones. The 2nd air traffic noise protection directive dated 8 September 2009 establishes requirements for the quality of the constructional noise protection in residential buildings and facilities worthy of protection in the noise protection zone. The directives create the conditions for an efficient and legally reliable execution of the amended air traffic noise act.
Other regulation areas and implementation instruments which are of considerable importance for air traffic noise protection, for example operational regulations, the establishment of flight routes and night flight restrictions and prohibitions, are anchored in the air traffic act. In this area there are special demands on the regional governments which, pursuant to the air traffic act, are primarily responsible for approval decisions and for the establishment of operational regulations at the individual airports. The establishment of flight procedures (flight routes, flight altitudes etc.) is the task of the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Traffic Control. Regulations which are of special importance for the protection of the population against air traffic noise are passed in consultation with the Federal Environmental Authority.
Source: Federal Ministry for the Environment