The Mayor's Ambient Noise Strategy - Greater London Authority

124 Mayor of London
The Mayor’s Ambient Noise Strategy
4C.12 A Government-commissioned study of aviation technology futures 16 made
it clear that significant further progress on noise reduction would only be
implemented if regulatory agencies created the right framework. The life
of an airframe may be forty years, compared with around ten for a road
vehicle, so the impact of quieter new aircraft on overall noise levels will
be slow unless instruments, such as higher landing charges at more noisesensitive
airports, higher fuel prices, incentives for scrapping, or other
measures are used to encourage removal of those aircraft which are more
polluting and/or less fuel efficient.
4C.13 Reductions in aircraft noise at take-off, dominated by engine noise, have
been more significant than when landing. Noise from aerodynamic
sources, from the airframe, such as control surfaces, and undercarriage,
has been becoming more significant. Landing noise is more complex to
control. With construction of Heathrow Terminal 5, increases in the
proportion of larger aircraft can be expected. Increases in perceived noise
under the final approach glidepaths east of Heathrow Airport are likely.
Airlines can be encouraged to use quieter aircraft through landing fees. At
Heathrow, differential landing charges are applied. In 2000/2001, Chapter
2 aircraft (see glossary) were required to pay double the landing fee,
compared with Chapter 3. The noisiest Chapter 3 aircraft paid 10% more,
and the quietest 10% less. A supplementary noise quota system is
operated at night to encourage the use of quieter aircraft.
policy 38
policy 39
The Mayor will urge the Government, European Union, and the aviation
industry to negotiate vigorously for and support economically the more
rapid development of quieter aircraft, particularly those which are quieter
on landing, and the rapid replacement of existing noisier aircraft by the
quietest available aircraft, including measures to secure removal of the
noisiest aircraft at specific airports where necessary, recognising that
sustained improvements in overall environmental performance are
required, having regard to any tensions with air quality or other
environmental objectives.
The Mayor will urge Government to create and maintain a supportive
regulatory environment for, and airport operators to use, all available
incentives, including further consideration of differential landing charges,
to encourage the development and deployment of the quietest available
aircraft. This includes:
■ distinguishing between aircraft of different noise levels within existing
or future ‘Chapter’ categories; and
■ examining the merits, particularly at Heathrow, of weighting charges
according to the landing element of the certification test.