Noise is one of the most significant environmental impacts from airports and for many of our local residents it represents one of the main causes of annoyance associated with living near an airport. Bristol Airport is committed to managing the noise from its operations and minimising its impact on communities living nearby.
Noise management strategy
Our noise management strategy includes the following measures:
- An advanced noise and track keeping system is used to monitor aircraft noise and the tracks followed by arriving and departing aircraft;
- Restrictions on the number and type of aircraft that can operate at night;
- Noise preferential routes for departing aircraft;
- Working with our airlines to introduce best practice operational procedures aimed at reducing noise and fuel burn;
- Restrictions on the ground running of aircraft engines and the use of aircraft auxiliary power units; and a
- A dedicated noise complaint line.
Monitoring of noise and track keeping
Noise from aircraft is recorded using noise monitors located under the flight path at each end of the runway. Noise measurements are reported on a quarterly basis to the Airport Consultative Committee and annually in the Operations Monitoring Report.
The Tracker system monitors the routes flown be aircraft against specific locations on the ground, providing graphical information to support responses to local residents reporting concerns over aircraft noise. Data from Tracker is now available to view online using Google Earth. For further details please see our Tracker online page.