Gatwick noise has been reduced by quieter jets, says airport

Gatwick Airport says it has reduced the number of local residents suffering noise from jets.
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It says newer planes are up to 50% quieter than older planes.

An airport spokesman said: “The area in the airport’s noise footprint, the standard measurement 57dB leq contour, has reduced by 9% since 2008 while numbers of flights in the last decade have grown 9%.

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“This reduction has been driven by many of the airport’s new routes being flown by new generation aircraft, for example the Airbus A320neo – aircraft which are up to 50% quieter on departure than the current models which they are replacing.”

Stewart Wingate, chief executive officer at Gatwick Airport (photo supplied by Gatwick Airport). SUS-161010-130118001Stewart Wingate, chief executive officer at Gatwick Airport (photo supplied by Gatwick Airport). SUS-161010-130118001
Stewart Wingate, chief executive officer at Gatwick Airport (photo supplied by Gatwick Airport). SUS-161010-130118001

He added: “More recently Gatwick has focused on incentivising airlines to modify their current aircraft fleet. 97% of the Airbus A320 family of aircraft flying from Gatwick, which account for half of all of the airport’s flights, have been modified to reduce noise.

“This modification was a significant factor in reducing the airport’s noise footprint by 3% in the last full calendar year according to independent noise analysis by the Civil Aviation Authority, despite a 3% increase in traffic over the same period.”

New generation aircraft, such as the Airbus A320neo, will be phased in over coming years.

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Gatwick estimates around 30% of its fleet will comprise new, quieter aircraft by 2022, 60% by 2027 and 90% by 2032.

Infographic of existing runways at Gatwick SUS-181017-151009001Infographic of existing runways at Gatwick SUS-181017-151009001
Infographic of existing runways at Gatwick SUS-181017-151009001

Growth plans for Gatwick Airport - including controversial proposals for a second runway - were unveiled in October.

Three possible expansion plans are being put forward - including the conversion of the airport’s existing emergency runway into full-time use - which bosses say could create 20,000 new jobs.

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A spokesman said: “The publication of Gatwick’s draft master plan reflects Department for Transport guidance for airports to provide regular updates on their long-term plans, and responds to the Government’s recent call for airports to ‘make best use of their existing runways’.”

The airport wants responses to a 12-week public consultation it has launched to gather feedback and views on the draft master plan. Visit www.gatwickairport.com/masterplan2018