Managing aircraft noise remains crucial to aviation industry growth
ACI participates at the ATAG Global Sustainable Aviation Forum 2019 in Montreal
Montreal, 13 May 2019 – As the aviation industry prepares to accommodate growth in air service demand, Airports Council International (ACI) World today emphasized that limiting or reducing the nuisance of significant aircraft noise remains a key priority for airports and aviation stakeholders.
Speaking at the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) Summit in Montreal today, ACI World Director General Angela Gittens highlighted the importance of managing aircraft noise as the industry meets new challenges.
“Aircraft noise is the most significant cause of adverse community reaction related to airports’ license to operate and grow, a necessary component to meeting future growth” said Angela Gittens. “Limiting or reducing the number of people affected by significant aircraft noise is thus a shared priority for airports, the aviation industry and regulators alike.
“The industry has done a good job at managing aircraft noise but new challenges are arising including the development of supersonic aircraft for business jets and commercial airplanes. While ACI supports the development of new technology, noise and emissions standards for supersonics must be stringent enough that they do not compromise the work that airports and the industry have been doing for decades.”
ACI supports the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Annex 16 Volume 1, dedicated to aircraft noise, and the current work at the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) to develop Standards and Recommended Practices for new supersonic aircraft.
ACI World Director Angela Gittens also spoke on the importance of non-acoustic factors that make up a portion of variables responsible for community annoyance including the level of trust residents have in airport or authorities in general, as well as their attitude towards aviation. Further research on non-acoustic factors is needed to properly address aircraft noise annoyance.
“While we have come a long way as an industry in this regard, new challenges are demanding a new and broader perspective that has communities at the heart of the matter,” said Angela Gittens. “While we continue to improve our technology and provide effective noise insulation, we must also strengthen our community engagement.
“This includes better understanding non-acoustic factors, beginning engagement early in the process of new projects, having transparent communication, knowing the community because no two airports are alike, developing a tailored engagement plan, and going well beyond the minimum requirements.”
Notes for editors
- Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2019, ACI serves 646 members, operating 1,960 airports in 176 countries.
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