London City Airport Consultative Committee
The arrangements made at London City for the monitoring, control and mitigation of noise
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London City Airport Consultative Committee |
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The arrangements made at London City for the monitoring, control and mitigation of noise |
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On this Page:Noise Management Scheme |
European Directive 2002/49/EC - Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise Attitudes to Noise from Aircraft Sources in in England (ANASE)
Other Noise Files: |
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Summer 2006 Noise Contours - .gif (551 kb)
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Noise Management SchemeLONDON CITY's latest Noise Management Scheme was approved by the local planning authority (the London Borough of Newham - LBN) at a meeting on 28th April 1999. Click here to see a copy of the scheme as well as the report received by LBN members about it. The Scheme includes a number of new features:
Permitted AircraftAIRCRAFT are not permitted to use the Airport unless they fit into one of the following noise categories:
Aircraft new to the Airport are allocated a provisional category following monitored trial flights at the Airport. This has to be approved by the local planning authority. All flights from the Airport are monitored and the category of each aircraft type is reviewed annually (between March and May) in the light of data from the noise monitors. Depending on the results of the review the category allocated to an aircraft may be changed. The aircraft categories are linked to Noise Factors which are used in calculating the number of flights against the permitted numbers, i.e. noisier aircraft count as more than one movement while the quieter types count as less than one - see our About the Airport page for details. 
Aircraft must also be capable of making an approach at 5.5 degrees or steeper - this compares with 3 degrees at most other airports. Helicopters and other vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, and aircraft with a single engine, are not permitted and flying for club or leisure purposes is prohibited. Annual Noise ContourThe noise monitoring arrangements requires the Airport each year to calculate and supply to the London Borough of Newham and the Consultative Committee the Summer 57 LAeq, 16 Hour, Noise Contour - see the panel below for details. The annual contour is published on this site - latest available is that for the Summer of 2006: Summer 2006 Noise Contours - .gif (551 kb) The first contours required by European Directive 2002/30/EC were published by DEFRA in December 2007 - click below for the maps relating to London City Airport: Lden Contour - .pdf (3.05mb) Noise Monitoring SystemTHE Noise Management Scheme, which has operated since 1990, depends on fixed monitors located a short distance outside the Airport's boundaries to the east and west. In the new Noise Management Scheme they are used:
Sound Insulation SchemeTHE trigger point for sound insulation and mechanical ventilation for homes and noise sensitive premises is the Airport's 57LAeq 16 hour noise contour - see the panel to the right for more information. This is a much lower trigger level than that which operates at most other UK Airports with noise insulation schemes. The Summer 2006 contour for London City Airport is shown on the Map (551kb) Note: The contour is shown at a higher resolution on the attached Acrobat .pdf file (2.02 mb) **. This file is best viewed in the Reader at 300% or 400%. The specification of the sound insulation and mechanical ventilation provided under the scheme is defined in detail in the Agreement under s.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 between the London Borough of Newham and the Airport on 21st July 1998. The first homes to be insulated were those in Silvertown immediately adjoining the Airport in Camel Road and parts of Drew Road and Parker Street. Parts of the Drew Road School were also treated. Part I of the original programme was subsequently implemented involving more properties in Drew Road and Parker Street and others in Wythes Road, Saville Road and Leonard Street. The remaining parts of the original scheme were then incorporated into a revised programme defined in the 1998 Agreement as follows:
The Committee receives regular reports on the implementation of this programme - to see these reports please refer to Committee's minutes. Although it was planned to be delivered in four separate phases Part IV of the Sound Insulation Programme will in fact be delivered as a single project. Survey work started in May 2004. This is expected to take up most of the rest of the year although some installation work can also be expected. Attached is a leaflet being used by the Airport to tell affected residents about the scheme. There is a working list of the properties covered by the scheme on our Insulation Programme page. Managing the scheme for the Airport are Banks Wood and Parners. The contact is David Chester on 01277 262870. It should be noted that many of the listed properties, notably in West Silvertown, were built or given planning permission after 30 July 1990 and - see Note 4 above - will not, therefore, be eligible for sound insulation if this was required to be installed by statute or as a condition of planning permission. The premises may, however, be eligible for mechanical ventilation. Most of the rest of the work described above was carried out in implementing Parts II and III of the programme which were substantially completed by the Spring of 2002. In some instances it proved impossible to obtain a response from the owner and in others the owner refused treatment. These properties are now being dealt with on an ad hoc basis as and when the owner makes contact. The original Drew Road school building has now been demolished to make way for the Airport Extension of the DLR. The school is now housed in new premises built on a site nearby. Hours of OpeningTO avoid noise for residents at night and at weekends and on Bank Holidays there are restrictions on the hours during which the Airport may be used for flights - see our About the Airport page for details. Restrictions on Number of FlightsFOR the same reason there are also detailed restrictions on the number of flights - again see our About the Airport page for details. Noise BarriersA number of noise barriers were provided when the Airport was first developed and these will be maintained. The pier used by passengers to reach the aircraft is itself an important noise barrier. The construction of the DLR extension to the Airport and North Woolwich immediately to the south of the pier - see pictures on this page - will have added to this barrier effect but inevitably the trains will generate some noise of their own. The LBN has the right, after consultation with the Airport Consultative Committee, to request the provision of more noise barriers. Ground Running of Engines
THE ground running of aeroplane engines for testing or maintenance purposes is only permitted during the opening hours of the Airport. On Bank Holidays, however, ground running for these purposes may not start until 09.00 hours. The places where such running may take place, and the positioning of the aircraft and the noise protection measures to be adopted, are subject to the agreement of the local planning authority. The sitecurrently approved for this purpose is located at the north-east corner of the apron adjoining the King George V Dock. But the Airport can propose alternatives for discussion with the local planning authority. The noise from ground running, as measured at homes adjoining the Airport, must not exceed 60dB LAeqT. Aircraft MaintenanceWHERE work to maintain or repair aircraft gives rise to noise discernible at the Airport boundary it is permitted only during the opening hours of the Airport. On Bank Holidays, however, such work may not start until 09.00 hours. Other Noise Abatement MeasuresTHE rules drawn up by the CAA for pilots using the Airport include the following noise abatement procedures:
European Directive 2002/30/EC - Rules and Procedures for Introducing Noise Related Operating RestrictionsThis Directive, adopted on 26 March 2002, establishes principles for managing noise and rules and procedures for introducing related operating restrictions at Community airports. In the UK the Government gave effect to the Directive in the Aerodromes (Noise Restrictions) (Rules and Procedures) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1742) which came into force on 6th August 2003 The Directive does not require action to counter noise to be taken at any airport. Rather it sets out a process which must be followed where such action is being contemplated, a process designed to enable local solutions to be developed for local problems. The Directive applies to civil airports in the EU with more than 50,000 movements a year by civil subsonic jet aircraft with a maximum take-off mass of 34,000 kg or more, or with more than 19 passenger seats. It has additional provisions for a small number of "City Airports", including London City Airport, being airports near the centre of a large conurbation and which are considered to operate in a particularly noise-sensitive location. Where it is proposed to introduce noise-related operating restrictions the competant authority (at London City the Airport itself) will now be required to undertake a detailed assessment of the noise situation in the locality, and the full range of possible measures to address the noise problems identified. The process must be transparent and involve consultation. The Regulations give rise to interesting procedural issues where it is proposed to impose noise restrictions as a condition of planning permission, or by agreement under s.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or (as at London City) significantly to alter existing restrictions imposed originally in that way. How are the new procedures to be dovetailed with the planning procedures and decision making processes which involve the local planning authority in a leading role? Click here for more information on this Directive European Directive 2002/49/EC - Assessment and Management of Environmental NoiseThis Directive, often known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END) came into effect in June 2002. The aim of the END is to define a common approach across the European Union with the intention of avoiding, preventing or reducing on a prioritised basis the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to exposure to environmental noise. This involves:
Such plans will aim to manage and reduce environmental noise where necessary, and preserve environmental noise quality where it is good. The END should have been transposed into law by the Member States of the EU by 18 July 2004. However, because of the large number of complex technical details which had to be resolved, DEFRA found it impossible to comply with this deadline in the UK and it was not until September 2006 that the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/2238) were laid before Parliament. They come into force on 1 October 2006. For more detailed information see:
London City Airport is both a “major airport” (more than 50,000 movements per annum) and located within Greater London. It was, therefore required to produce noise maps on a rolling basis. The noise maps for London City and 17 other airports in England were publsihed by in December 2007 - these can be seen on the Department's website - click below for the maps relating to London City Airport: Lden Contour - .pdf (3.05mb) The maps will be used in “developing co-ordinated and cost-effective action plans to reduce noise”. This, too, will be the responsibility of London City Airport . As yet there has been no response to the concerns expressed by the Consultative Committee's at the consultation stage as to whether Airport operators will have to pay for the noise mapping or how at London City Airport the action plans will fit in with the noise mitigation measures in force at the Airport by virtue of the Airport's planning permission and/or the 1998 s.106 planning agreement. Sounder City - the Mayor of London’s Ambient Noise StrategyIn March 2004 the Mayor at last finalised and issued his Ambient Noise Strategy. This 295 page can be seen/downloaded on the Mayor’s website . There is also a 16 page Highlights summary and an 8 page leaflet which are likewise available on the website. The Consultative Committtee's report on the Strategy is attached. This notes that the aviation noise chapter of the Strategy is concerned mostly with Heathrow. So far as London City is concerned the Strategy notes that :
Attitudes to Noise from Aircraft Sources in in England (ANASE)This long running study was launched in May 2001. Its aim was to research how people feel about aircraft noise and especially how they perceive the relationship between noise levels and annoyance, or sleep disturbance at night, and how they would value lower noise levels relative to other environmental factors. For more infomration about the progrewss of the study visit the UKACCs website The results of the Study were finally published by the Department early in November 2007 - the consultants' report, together with peer reviews and Departmental statement papers, have been placed on the DfT website. See also the DfT's press release. The Department say two key conclusions emerge from the study. First, that people are more annoyed by all levels of aircraft noise than they were in 1985, when the last major study in this field was carried out. Secondly, there is no identifiable threshold at which noise becomes a serious problem. Even relatively low levels of noise can cause some annoyance, which rises as the noise increases. In December the Airport, in response to a question from Newham Council in connection with their interim planning application, prepared a note on the impact of ANASE at London City Airport (.pdf, 266kb).
** This file is in .pdf format and to view it you will need
an Acrobat Reader. This can be obtained free of charge by clicking
the "Get Acrobat Reader" icon opposite. |
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An independent Consultative Committee established by London City Airport pursuant to Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 Page last modified: 21st January 2008 |
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