Noise explained

For as long as people want to fly, there will be noise from planes landing and taking off. And while millions of us enjoy flying every year, there is a noisy and sometimes distressing downside for the people who live or work near to airports and under flight paths.

Lots of people get used to the noise from aeroplanes – just like people living near busy roads and railway lines get used to the noise from lorries and trains. But of course, there are also people who are disturbed or annoyed by it.

It is Gatwick Airport's responsibility – working with airlines, National Air Traffic Services (who provide air traffic control) and Government – to do something about this noise. Although we can’t cut it out completely, but we will work to minimise it as far as we can. We will also give you useful and clear information about what you’re hearing and why.

Until the mid 1990s, most of the information that was given to the public about noise from aeroplanes came from the Government. We took over this job for several reasons: we have the technical knowledge; we’re in daily contact with Air Traffic Control (who direct the planes); and also with the airlines.

So, although we don’t tell the planes where to fly (that’s the job of Air Traffic Control) or set the routes they have to fly (that’s the Government) or even fly the planes (that’s the airlines), it’s us at the airport who provide all the information about what is happening, and act as a go-between between the public and the industry.

This website sets out to explain some of the issues about aeroplane noise, answer the most common questions, and sets out what we’re doing about it.