HACAN Says Government Should Ditch Outdated System To Measure Aircraft Noise | |||
Current method denies noise is a problem in Putney
HACAN, representing residents under the Heathrow flight paths, has called on the Government to include plans to change the way it measures aircraft noise in its draft aviation policy, expected to go out to public consultation before the end of March. The current method the Government uses varies from the one recommended by the European Union. The EU uses what is known as the Lden method to measure aircraft noise. It averages the noise out over a 12 hour day; then a 4 hour evening; and finally an 8 hour night. It adds 5 decibels to the evening level and 10 decibels to the night level to allow for the lower background noise levels at those times. The UK Government uses what is known as Leq: averaging the noise out over a 16 hour day. It also contradicts the guidelines for noise annoyance recommended by the World Health Organisation. The EU estimates that around 720,000 people are disturbed by noise from Heathrow aircraft. The UK Government puts it much lower at less than 300,000. HACAN Chair John Stewart said: John Stewart added
When it drew up its noise actions plans in 2009 the UK was required to use the EU method. In its recent report, which discovered that 28% all the people in Europe affected aircraft noise live under the Heathrow flight paths, the CAA also used the EU method.
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