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Aircraft Noise And Low Flying

Volume 923: debated on Monday 20 December 1976

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asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total sum of money paid in fines for noise and height infringement in 1975.

There are no powers to impose fines for infringement of noise abatement regulations. My policy is one of co-operation with the airlines to ensure the maximum compliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many aircraft during 1976 have exceeded the permitted height levels on landing or take-off at Heathrow.

It would be prohibitively expensive to keep records of the height of all aircraft flying to and from Heathrow. Sample checks indicate that, in general, noise abatement procedures relating to height are being met.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many aircraft so far during 1976 have exceeded the permitted noise levels on landing at or taking off from Heathrow.

In the first 11 months of this year there were 116,203 jet take-offs from Heathrow of which 2,402—2·06 per cent—exceeded the noise limits of 110 PNdB during the day and 102 PNdB at night. There are no noise limits for landings.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with the progress being made to reduce engine noise on aircraft.

Bearing in mind that reduction of engine noise on aircraft is an international matter, I am confident that the progress being made is consistent with technical feasibility and economic reasonableness.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what plans he has to minimise the damaging effect of noise on schoolchildren, hospital patients, the elderly and infirm who live or work on the flight path of aircraft at Heathrow.

A substantial range of noise abatement measures is already in operation at Heathrow with the object of alleviating noise disturbance. We will continue to keep such measures under review and improve them whenever practicable. However, substantial alleviation can only come from the greater use of quieter aircraft. Some success has already been achieved in this area, and action is in hand to ensure that there will be continuing improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the estimated date by which noisy aircraft such as Tridents and VC10s will have been phased out.

It is estimated that, by 1990, under normal replacement criteria, virtually all aircraft operating at United Kingdom airports will be capable of meeting current noise certification levels. I am considering measures by which this replacement process might be hastened.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps his Department is taking to monitor aircraft noise in the Ealing-Southall district.

Aircraft noise in the Ealing-Southall area is monitored periodically.