Bo Redeborn, who led the Arrivals Review and is the independent chair of the Noise Management Board (NMB), updates on progress made by the Board. You can find all minutes and documents relating to meetings on our NMB page.
Update 25 October 2017
Gatwick’s Noise Management Board (NMB) has continued its collaborative work with the aviation industry and community noise groups during the summer, to drive further improvements to the noise performance of aircraft using Gatwick. This work has led to 20 targeted work streams as NMB activities for the 2017/18 work plan, which build on NMB initiatives that are already underway. This includes further progress towards the implementation of procedures for the Fair and Equitable Distribution (FED) of flights, the improvement of Continuous Descent Operations (CDOs), where Gatwick is already leading UK performance, and implementation of enhanced noise abatement departures procedures. Details are available in the NMB Work Plan Overview.
The noise modification of the Airbus A320 family of airliners, the most commonly used type at Gatwick, is nearing completion. Following the recommendation of the Arrivals Review, Gatwick agreed to implement higher noise charges for any non-modified aircraft using Gatwick – the first airport in the world to do so. This new noise charging regime takes effect at the beginning of January 2018.
FED has been a key NMB focus since its first meeting. Significant analysis and discussions have taken place to define FED and therefore identify options to achieve its intention. The 2017/18 work plan includes activities involving Gatwick, NATS, ANS and the CAA to assess and implement initiatives to meet FED objectives.
Analysis of CDO at Gatwick and elsewhere has confirmed that to achieve further significant reductions of arrivals noise, pan-industry operational and policy changes will be necessary, both in the UK and internationally. Gatwick is leading an initiative with the CAA and Sustainable Aviation (SA) to agree and deliver proposals for these changes.
Departure-related activities are also a part of the NMB work plan for the first time. These were developed through community and industry workshops, and also include recommendations proposed by GATCOM and NATMAG.
Preliminary work is also underway to determine which additional procedures could be evaluated in operation that could reduce the impact of night noise. This task is still very much at a concept stage, there is much more work to do through industry engagement and NMB workshops over the coming months.
Lastly, the NMB will be participating in a public meeting on 7 December to report on progress, answer questions, listen to your feedback and to support several interactive demonstrations and tutorials. I expect it to be a useful and informative day and encourage anyone with an interest in the management of aircraft noise to take the opportunity to register their interest in participating. Details will be available online in the coming weeks.
Bo Redeborn – Chairman
Noise Management Board
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