The Airports Council International (
The Airports Council International (
Air service brings very significant economic and social benefits to the communities served by commercial airports. Regardless of the considerable technical progress achieved in producing quieter engines and aircraft, noise is still the single major cause for community opposition to airport capacity expansion. Any increase in overall noise levels around airports will be unacceptable if airports are to keep their future ability to meet traffic growth. The very future growth of air travel itself will therefore depend on a progressive and credible reduction in aircraft noise.
In effect since 1977, Chapter 3 standards no longer reflect the current level of noise reduction technology and performance of today`s aircraft. For the last ten years ACI called for these standards to be revised by increased stringency of 4dB at each of the measurement points for takeoff, approach and sideline noise, but ICAO CAEP has been unable to agree on any increase in stringency despite ACI`s caution that continued lack of response to public environmental concerns would be to the detriment of the entire air transport industry. Since 1995, increased political environmental pressure on airports, especially in Europe and the Far East, has resulted in a proliferation of local noise related restrictions introduced by airports to meet the growing traffic.
ACI members unanimously adopted a Resolution on Aircraft Noise in September 1999, calling for Chapter 3 aircraft noise certification standards to be revised to reflect, with immediate effect, a cumulative increased stringency of 14EPNdB with at least 4EPNdB at each measurement point for future aircraft types. ACI`s proposals to CAEP reflect this resolution. CAEP`s own analysis and data show that ACI`s proposals are technically feasible, economically reasonable and environmentally beneficial, in line with CAEP`s own criteria.
ACI also urges CAEP to recommend a scheduled, rapid phaseout of the noisiest Chapter 3 aircraft in order to provide maximum noise relief, consistent with reasonable requirements of operating economics. This phaseout must also recognize the need for flexibility in application and the special needs of developing nations. An ACI proposal includes phasing out aircraft meeting Chapter 3 standards by a cumulative margin of less than -5dB by 2005. In the interim, ACI supports the introduction of operating restrictions on these aircraft at noise-sensitive airports.
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