New night time flight policy agreed by Birmingham Airport and Solihull Council
From Cllr Stuart Davis, Chairman of Planning Committee on 27 January 2012
Solihull Council and Birmingham Airport have agreed a new night time flying policy that will reduce noise for neighbouring communities.
At a meeting of the Council’s planning committee, members agreed proposals which will see a reduction in noise during the night period, where the Airport will reduce it night noise violation level limit from 87dB(A) to 85 dB(A), which would encourage airlines to operate quieter aircraft. The Airport also agreed to ban the scheduling of noisy aircraft at night. The combination of restrictions in the new Night Flying Policy would see Birmingham Airport having one of the most stringent rules around night noise of any airport in the UK.
The proposals have also changed the night period to bring it in line with other UK airports and that defined by the Civil Aviation Authority- 11.30pm-6am (previously 11pm-6am).
The Night Flying Policy at Birmingham Airport is reviewed every two years. In 2010/11, an interim review was carried out, subject to the airport carrying out a full review in 2011. As part of the review the Airport carried out a 16 week public consultation, launched in June 2011, seeking the views on their proposals. The proposals were put to the Airport Working party, who worked closely with the airport to gain further information in order to be able to put forward a suitable proposal to the Planning Committee.
Chairman of Solihull Council’s Planning Committee, Councillor Stuart Davis, said: “I’m extremely pleased that, by working closely with Birmingham Airport, we have been able to agree a night time policy that reduces noise levels for our communities, and is also in line with other UK airports, giving Solihull, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands equal economic benefits. I’d like to thank colleagues on the airport working party and the Airport itself for showing true partnership working, with the environment and the local community in mind.”
Birmingham Airport’s Environment Manager, Kirstin Kane said “We are committed to meeting the air travel needs of the Midlands region in an environmentally responsible way and the Night Flying Policy is an integral part of the Airport Company’s overall programme of environmental mitigation. We would also like to thank the Airport Working Party for their approach to working in partnership to achieve a Night Flying Policy that can be considered as the most stringent in the UK."
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Email: alynch@solihull.gov.uk