Gatwick has managed to reduce the number of people and area affected by noise despite an increasing number of aircraft using the airport.
The reduction in the airport’s ‘noise footprint’ of 3% in 2017 over 2016 comes after a Noise Management Board (NMB) was established two years ago to modify Airbus A320 aircraft.
This has helped reduce the noise contour around the airport according to an annual independent analysis by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The 3% reduction in noise has been achieved despite the number of aircraft increasing by 1% over the same period.
Using the nationally recognised standard measurement (57dB leq) – the reduction in Gatwick’s noise footprint over the last 20 years has been:
• 2017 42.6Km2 3,400 people
• 2007 46.7km2 4,800 people
• 1997 86.1km2 12,300 people
The independent NMB brings the local community and the aviation industry together in a formalised structure and is considered to be an industry-leading approach to managing noise issues at a local level.
Its work saw the A320 family of aircraft modified so that they no longer made a pitched whine sound during parts of their approach to landing.
These aircraft currently fly more than half of all Gatwick flights but, following a change in financial charges to encourage airlines to use quieter aircraft, 97% of A320s have now been adapted.
The next generation of these aircraft (A320neo/ A321neo) are up to 50% quieter than their predecessors and have started to come into service at Gatwick.
Andy Sinclair, Gatwick’s head of airspace, said: “The reduced noise footprint is welcome and demonstrates encouraging progress but we also recognise that noise continues to be an issue for local residents and we will push on with our challenge to reduce noise further.
“Some of the work we are progressing will deliver further improvements over both the short and longer term. This includes the large scale redesign of London and Gatwick’s airspace, which has the potential to reduce noise from the airport further still.”
Bo Redeborn, chairman of the Noise Management Board, said: “The NMB’s reason for being is to improve life for those affected by noise from aircraft flying in and out of Gatwick and the airport’s shrinking noise footprint suggests that we are starting to make some progress toward this aim.
“For example, a Continuous Decent Approach (CDA) means that aircraft use less thrust and generate less noise by descending at a continuous rate, rather than a stepped approach, and the CDA conformance at Gatwick was raised for all arrivals from 6000 to 7000 ft to reduce noise even further.
“Next generation aircraft that are up to 50% quieter have also started flying at Gatwick and over the next few years these will become the workhorses of the airport and will help reduce noise even more.”