- Environmental Responsibility
- Air Quality
- Noise
- Climate Change
- Improving Public Transport
- High Speed Rail
Noise
The Government has clearly stated that
a third runway will not go ahead unless there is no more noise overall
than in 2002.
Aircraft are getting quieter
It may be difficult to see how noise
levels at Heathrow wouldn't increase with a third runway but the answer
is technology. Aircraft are getting quieter - the latest generation
of aircraft such as the A380 is rated as generating only 25% of the
noise levels of a Boeing 747-400.
Over the last thirty years, the number
of people within the 57dB noise contour around Heathrow has fallen by
more than 80 per cent, despite the number of flights increasing by more
than 70 per cent during this period.
Aircraft manufacturers remain committed
to reducing noise levels by using innovative technology. By the
time a third runway would be operational, the planes currently in use
at Heathrow would have nearly been entirely replaced by newer, quieter
aircraft.
No more noise than in 2002
If growth were given the go-ahead, there
would be winners and losers in terms of aircraft noise. Some people
would hear aircraft noise for the first time but other communities would
also find that the level of noise they experience reduced. The Government
has made it clear that the overall noise footprint from Heathrow cannot
increase above 2002 levels, even with a third runway or mixed mode.
It is also important to note that mixed
mode would be an interim measure until a third runway was built.
Once a third runway was operational, then for safety reasons the existing
two runways would have to revert to segregated, alternated mode (as
they do currently). This means that communities living under the
existing flights paths would once again receive the half day of respite
as now.
No increase night flights
The Government has also made it clear
that growth at the airport would not result in more night flights.
The airport operator, BAA, has also underlined its commitment to keep
night flights to a minimum.
Noise insulation schemes
BAA already operates noise insulation
schemes for those people most affected by aircraft noise. If growth
were to go ahead at the airport, these schemes would be reviewed to
ensure people newly affected by high levels of aircraft noise were included.