To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact and noise pollution caused by private aircraft; (152005)

The Department is not aware of any assessment of the environmental impact and noise pollution caused by private aircraft. Propeller driven aircraft weighing under 9,000 kg—the main “general aviation” aircraft—have to comply with an internationally agreed noise certification standard, unless they were on the UK register prior to 1980. This standard was tightened for aircraft certificated after 1999. We expect aerodromes to set and to enforce appropriate rules to minimise noise nuisance, reflecting local circumstances. Guidance on recommended measures to help reduce the noise related nuisance from light aircraft is available on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website (www.caa.co.uk).