Heathrow's noise pollution is decreasing according to new research

A new annual noise contour report has shown that Heathrow airport’s noise footprint is continuing to shrink.

Independent analysis from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) commissioned by Heathrow, shows that over 52,000 fewer households are impacted by noise compared to 2006. This forms part of the airport’s noise action plan to deliver regular communications to residents.

This year, in response to community requests, Heathrow has included new metrics in the analysis that look at overflight track density diagrams and single mode contours, making this ‘super report’ the most comprehensive noise contour report ever published by the airport.

The independent report shows that over the past 11 years, the area around the airport affected by average noise measurements over the course of a 24-hour operating day, as measured using the preferred European measure of noise, has decreased by 15 per cent.

Heathrow’s sustainability director, Matt Gorman, said: “Heathrow has some of the world’s toughest rules and regulations on noise, which have played a major role in driving developments in quieter aircraft technology.

“Over the past 30 years, we have managed to more than double our passenger numbers whilst decreasing our noise footprint to its smallest levels yet – this is testament to the efforts of Heathrow and our airline and manufacturing partners to reduce the impact of the operations.”

The new league table ranks Air India fleet as the quietest flying to Heathrow from July to September, up 41 places since the first league table ranking performance from January to March of this year.

Heathrow is also playing its part in helping to improve technology by increasing the amount the noisiest, oldest aircraft pay to land at the airport.

This year, the airport has doubled the tariff attached to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. This means environmental landing charges for airlines have doubled this year - from £8.57 per kg of NOx emitted to £16.51 per kg - providing another incentive to use cleaner aircraft. The noisiest planes will face a trebling in charges to £9,000 per landing.

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