The Times : 27 May, 2003
Night flight noise is twice the legal limit
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
THE Government concealed research showing that disturbance caused by night flights had been grossly underestimated.
The noise generated by jumbo jets arriving at Heathrow airport in the early hours is almost double the legal limit, according to research. The Department for Transport has had to admit that its estimate of the noise generated by the 16 flights between 11.30pm and 6am failed to reflect the true impact on 600,000 people living under the airport’s flight paths. The Government does not measure the actual noise levels of night flights but relies on estimates based on the noise ratings, or certifications, for different aircraft types. However, flight tests carried out by the Department for Transport since 1999 have found that the ratings are seriously flawed. A Boeing 747-400 with Rolls-Royce engines was found to have twice the effect assumed in its noise rating. Most night flights involve 747-400s arriving from the Far East and other long-haul destinations.
The Government quietly published the results of the monitoring last month, more than three years after the department had realised that the ratings could be wrong. The new ratings were buried in a 60-page consultation document on reforming the rules governing night flights. Wandsworth council, which has tens of thousands of residents under flight paths, used the new ratings to show that the actual noise was almost twice the legal limit, known as the noise quota count. A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The perceived noise levels on some aircraft were found to be higher than the certificated levels. It is quite possible, operationally, that aircraft exceeded the quota count score over a season.” But he denied that the findings meant that the number of night flights would have to cut. “They sound noisier, but they are not breaking any regulations because the EU directive requires that the noise limit is based on certificated noise levels, not operational ones.” He said that the department had not released the information before because “the flow of data came to a head in April”. Edward Lister, leader of Wandsworth council, said: “The Government has known that their noise figures were wrong for almost four years, yet they continue to tell those of us under the flight path that things are getting better. “It is as if ministers just wanted to bury this piece of unwelcome news. “The fact that night noise has now been proved to have deteriorated could open the floodgate to a wave of compensation claims from people woken up by early-morning arrivals.” The council called on ministers to establish new noise limits based on actual readings rather than estimates.
John Stewart, chairman of ClearSkies, which campaigns against aircraft noise, said: “The actual noise level may not be illegal, but it is pretty dishonest of the Government to hide behind estimates that have been shown to be false.”
British Airways, which operates most of the night flights, says that they are essential to Heathrow’s position as the leading European airport. International time differences mean that passengers would have to depart at unsociable hours if forced to arrive in London after 6am. Most of the 16 night flights arrive between 4.30am and 6am. People tend to be sleeping deeply at this time and may find it hard to fall asleep again if woken. But last month’s consultation document concluded there was little evidence to link sleep disturbance with flights. It said that people “become used to noise and sleep through it undisturbed, especially when it is steady or familiar”.
The Government has commissioned a study of the effect of aircraft noise, but it will not be published until the end of 2004, well after ministers have announced plans for massive airport expansion in a White Paper due before Christmas. Heathrow is governed by some of the strictest noise limits in Europe because its location requires aircraft to approach directly over the capital. Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, which has open fields on three sides, is allowed 94 flights a night.
