Noise

Did you know?

You can now see our customer service performance results online.

Find out more

  • Print this page

Noise

In 2007 we focused on:

  • Installing a new £1.6m noise and track keeping (NTK) system
  • Launching Webtrak - an interactive website which enables users to view aircraft tracks around Gatwick (with a 24 hour delay for security reasons) for a particular time.
  • Enabling complaints to be made online. We saw a decrease in the number of callers to the flight evaluation unit (down from 794 to 672), although the number of enquiries went up from 3165 to 5288. The main reasons for complaint included arrivals noise, track-keeping and low flying
  • A significant reduction in the number of Chapter 3 high aircraft (now 448 against 4,410 in 2002-03). These are the noisiest aircraft type permitted
  • Working with our airline partners to improve aircraft departures track keeping by 0.44% to achieve a level of 98.6% on track
  • Working with local environmental health officers to review and analyse data from our mobile noise monitors enabling us to keep track of the noise climate around the airport. This group has also been working together on a plan to make best use of mobile noise monitors in the community
  • Consulting and publishing our noise insulation scheme for properties eligible for acoustic insulation assistance, ready to take forward in 2008
  • Working with our community and airport stakeholders to improve our ground noise operations analysis and reporting, which has been used to identify areas of focus for the ground noise committee.

Our targets for 2007

   
Environment Category 2007 Target 2007 Target Performance
Noise To improve achievement of CDA (continuous descent approach) across the 24 hour period from 81% in 2006 to 82.5% for 2007 Some progress
We saw a marginal increase in CDA achievement for the ‘day and shoulder’ time period (06.00 to 23.30) during 2007, but the ‘core night’ period (23.30 to 06.00) was slightly lower than 2006. This was largely due to the increase in northern runway operations from runway maintenance works. Overall CDA achievement by arriving flights across the 24 hour period rose by 0.1% but was short of our 82.5% target.
Environment Category 2007 Target 2007 Target Performance
Noise Prepare a draft noise action plan for Gatwick and develop a plan for consultation with key stakeholders by 31 December 2007 to enable the action plan to be agreed with key stakeholders by 30 April 2008. Target achieved

We have produced a draft noise action plan for Gatwick and identified the key stakeholders and questions for consultation. However, the deadline for consultation will not be met as BAA is awaiting the delayed publication of Defra guidance on action plan content and consultation. We will be able to consult on our action plan when the Government guidance becomes available later in 2008.

2007 performance data

Callers and complaints

 

2005

2006

2007

Callers   898  794  672
Enquiries  6189  3165  5288

 

Night quota

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

   Summer  Winter 05-06  Summer  Winter 06-07  Summer
Night quota allowance (aircraft movements) 11200 5250 11200 3250 11200

 

Quota allowance used:

Aircraft movements

Percentage

 

 

 

10939

97.7%

 

 

3257

62.0%

 

 

10918

97.5%

 

 

2734

84.1%

 

 

10173

90.8%

QC Points allowance 9000 6640 9000 2300 6700

 

QC point allowance used

Points

Percentage used

 

 

 

 

8255.5

91.7%

 

 

 

2677

40.3%

 

 

 

7749.5

86.1%

 

 

 

1355.25

58.9%

 

 

 

5328.5

79.5%

 

Population and area within 57dBA LAeq daytime contour

 

2004

2005

2006

Population  4500  4700  4500
Area (km²) 48.0  49.3  46.7

Issues and approach
Our plans

Managing corporate responsibility

Find out more

Back to top