The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy Mayor of London 121
Mayor has stated that he supports ending the exemption of aviation fuel
from taxation to help reduce unnecessary air journeys (Transport Strategy,
paragraph 4L.12). However, reduction in general demand for air travel
would not automatically be expressed in equivalent reductions in demand
at a particular airport that was more popular and accessible to travellers
than other airports; general and location-specific noise management
would still be needed.
4C.7 Air pollution modelling reported in the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy, and in
Government and Hillingdon Council work, has identified areas of concern
along the major roads and in specific ‘hot spots’. West London, around
Heathrow Airport, was one of the main areas of projected exceedence of
the annual average nitrogen dioxide objective, predominantly due to
directly and indirectly airport-related activities and the high level of vehicle
use along the M4 corridor. The Air Transport White Paper recognises that
further expansion at Heathrow could only take place if the Government
could be confident that the European Union air quality limit values
applying from 2010 could be met. The London Plan recognises that
airports outside Greater London have major implications for development,
regeneration and surface access, as well as for the environment.
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The Mayor will urge the Government (which has the key decision-making
powers at Heathrow), the aviation industry, local authorities and other
stakeholders to minimise the impact of aviation noise on London, within
the context of meeting London’s needs as a world city. The Government is
urged to work vigorously to reduce noise associated with aviation,
including through international agreements, national and airport-related
regulation and economic measures.
Issues in controlling aircraft and airport-related noise
4C.8 Issues involved in aircraft and airport-related noise management include:
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Quieter aircraft and aircraft numbers;
Noise abatement operational procedures;
Operating restrictions, including restrictions on night flights;
Ground noise and surface access;
Spatial planning and building insulation.
Quieter aircraft and aircraft numbers
4C.9 Aircraft have, weight for weight, been becoming quieter. However, their
numbers have been growing, not just at Heathrow, but at other airports
in and around London. Residents’ groups and others have been
concerned at the growth in the number of planes over London as global
aviation has expanded. The increasing size of aircraft is likely to make