Aircraft noise
Noise generated by aircraft arriving and departing from George Best Belfast City Airport can be detectable over an extended area and is, consequently, an important issue for the local community. In addition to this, noise from aircraft taxiing and engine ground running can affect those living in the immediate vicinity of the Airport.
It is our policy to promote the development of airport capacity in harmony with the environment. We aim to achieve this through the implementation of noise management strategies to limit the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise, and to engage with statutory authorities, elected and community representatives, and other stakeholders in a programme of continuous communication.
Since the Airport began commercial operations in 1983, we have consistently sought to develop and improve the range of management strategies to minimise the impact of aircraft noise on our local community. Our noise management strategy revolves around stipulations in our Planning Agreement (with the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland) and other noise management measures.
- Stipulations in the Planning Agreement
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Operating hours: flights may only be scheduled to operate between 06:30 hours and 21:30 hours. Extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances to facilitate delayed aircraft up to 23:59 hours.
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Movements cap: the Airport may only operate 48,000 aircraft movements in any 12 month period.
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Seats for sale: airlines may offer no more than 2,000,000 seats for sale on flights from the Airport in any 12 month period.
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Flight routings: the majority of flights must take off and land over Belfast Lough. However, as aircraft are required to take off and land by flying into the wind, the choice of direction will depend on the prevailing wind conditions.
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Aircraft types: the Airport is only to accept jet aircraft that are at least Chapter 3 certified (‘Chapter 3’ refers to the noise standard laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)) and not accept aircraft that are only ‘marginally’ compliant with the Chapter 3 standard as defined under the Aerodromes (Noise Restrictions) (Rules and Procedures) Regulations 2003.
The majority of aircraft operating at the Airport comply with the more stringent Chapter 4 noise standard.
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Noise Contours: the Airport must produce noise contours annually to report the extent of noise impacting upon the local community. These reports are lodged with the relevant government departments and members of the Airport Forum for scrutiny purposes.
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Noise and Track Monitoring System: the Airport must operate a noise and track monitoring system.
The Airport has invested approximately £150,000 in a Noise & Track Monitoring System (NTMS). The purpose of this system is to record actual aircraft noise data and track flight paths for the ongoing assessment of the impact of aircraft noise on the community. The NTMS is used when investigating specific queries about aircraft movements. Noise data obtained from two fixed noise monitors located under the flight path at each end of the runway is also used to produce the annual noise contours.
We monitor and record data in relation to these stipulations including the number of aircraft movements, flights after 21:30 hours and the number of flights over Belfast Lough and publish this information on our website on a rolling three month basis.
Click here to view these statistics
- Other Noise Management Measures
Noise Abatement Procedures: the Airport has in force a series of noise abatement procedures for both arriving and departing traffic. These are designed to minimise noise disturbance on the surrounding community while ensuring the safe and efficient management of air traffic at the Airport. These procedures can be summarised as follows:
- Departures over Belfast Lough
On attaining a height of 500 feet or 0.4 nautical miles, whichever is sooner, aircraft taking off over Belfast Lough must execute a left turn to take the aircraft over water. Only on reaching pre-defined altitudes may aircraft turn south over the North Down coastline (1,500 feet for a turbo-prop aircraft less than 13,000kg, 2,000 feet for a turbo-prop aircraft greater than 13,000kg and 3,000 feet for a jet aircraft).
- Departures over Belfast City
Similarly, aircraft departing over Belfast City must maintain a straight course until reaching pre-defined altitudes above heights after which they may execute a turn.
- Arrivals over Belfast Lough
Aircraft arriving over Belfast Lough are to cross the North Down coast at an altitude not below 2,500 feet before establishing on the final approach track at not below 1,500 feet altitude 5 miles from the threshold.
All arriving aircraft are to descend to the runway threshold at an angle of 3 degrees.
- Arrivals over Belfast City
Aircraft arriving over Belfast City are to establish on the final approach track no later than 5 miles from the threshold at an altitude of 1,500 feet.
All arriving aircraft are to descend to the runway threshold at an angle of 3 degrees.
Track Monitoring: The Airport’s track monitoring system allows for the monitoring of all flights compliance with these noise abatement procedures.
Example of departing flight tracks over Belfast Lough
Ground Noise:
- Fixed Electrical Ground Power
To minimise the impact of ground noise, we have installed Fixed Electrical Ground Power (FEGP) on all 10 aircraft stands in front of the terminal which provides aircraft with a silent electrical supply.
There are procedures in place surrounding the timing and location of aircraft ground engine running. All engine ground runs shall be subject to the prior approval of the Airside Standards Department and the test running of aircraft engines is prohibited between 22:30 hours and 06:30 hours.
Community Fund: GBBCA has in place a penalty system on all flights arriving into or departing from the airport after 21:30 hours in order to discourage flights beyond this time. Monies are placed into the
Community Fund which is used to support a variety of worthwhile projects in the East Belfast and North Down communities.
Our objective is to ensure the number of those affected by noise in the community is minimised. For the period 2011-2012 we aim to:
• Maintain flights after 21:30 hours to less than 2% of total flights.
• Commence a review of aircraft noise management strategies using NTMS data.