Noise from light Aircraft
Dear Robert,
Thank you for your letter of 24 October about noise from light aircraft.
I should explain that this Department has general responsibility for
aircraft noise matters, but is only directly involved in measures
to control aircraft noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted
Airports which are designated under section 80 for the purposes
of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. Elsewhere, because
of the wide variation in circumstances, we believe that local
issues, such as the noise impact of a regional airport's operations,
are best discussed locally. However, we do expect airport and
aircraft operators to achieve a reasonable balance between
their legitimate operations and the interests of those affected
by them.
It may be helpful if I explain what regulations are in place at the
moment. Under Civil Aviation legislation, all pilots have to
comply with the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996, which require, amongst
other things, that an aircraft must not fly within 500 feet
of "any person, vessel, vehicle or structure" (except when
landing or taking off) or below 1,000 feet over a congested
area unless written permission has been obtained from the Civil
Aviation Authority. Although these regulations are concerned
primarily with safety, the height restrictions do give an incidental
noise benefit.
In addition Rule 18 of these Regulations prohibits aircraft from carrying
out aerobatic manoeuvres over the congested area of any city,
town or settlement; or within controlled airspace, except with
the consent of air traffic control.
No legal action can be taken against pilots for noise disturbance,
provided they observe the Rules of the Air and fly in accordance
with normal aviation practice. If you think an aircraft has
broken these rules or is otherwise flying dangerously, you
can contact the Head of Aviation Regulation Enforcement of
the Civil Aviation Authority at the following address: Room
K504, CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London WC2B 6TE, tel: 0207
453 6191. Information such as times and if possible, registration
letters of the aircraft involved is always helpful in such
cases.
You also raise the issue of higher noise standards in other countries.
Until 28 September 2003, responsibility for noise certification
of aircraft and modifications to aircraft on the UK register
rested with the Civil Aviation Authority. After that date,
the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) became the technical
expert for Europe for all aircraft on any EU register, including
the UK's, are now the responsibility of EASA. The noise standards
applied are the internationally recognised International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
Any modifications to aircraft made and approved prior to 28 September
2003 would have been deemed approved in all EU Member States
by the creation of EASA. Owners are free to modify their aircraft
to make them quieter than the mandatory limit provided the
modification has safety and environmental approval.
EASA is, however, not responsible for operational restrictions that
an individual state might impose to mitigate a local problem.
We are informally aware that in Germany there are some noise
dependant operating restrictions, and in order to gain an operational
advantage, light aircraft are often modified from their original
type design in such a way as to make them quieter.
In the UK, operating restrictions at small airfields, environmental
or otherwise, are the responsibility of the airfield management.
Yours sincerely
Gillian Merron |
