Matt Gorman of Heathrow, said: “The launch of the Fly Quiet programme signals
our firm commitment to being transparent about aircraft noise and our
progress in reducing its impact on local communities.”
John Stewart, of the noise campaign group HACAN, welcomed the publication of
the tables, calling it “a constructive move to improve the noise climate.”
Six criteria were applied to the airlines assessed in the table:
1. Noise efficiency – a calculation designed to take into account of the
greater number of passengers carried by larger, noisier aircraft
2. Noise certification – according to Heathrow, this “favours the airlines
operating best-in-class, modern, quieter aircraft more frequently”.
3. Steady approach – reducing the amount of noise as it require less engine
thrust
4. Staying within “noise preferential routes”, away from more densely
populated areas
5. Night-time operations – part of a voluntary arrangement where aircraft
scheduled to land between 04.30 and 06.00 will not land before 04.30.
6. No arrivals before 06.00 for flights scheduled to land after that time
unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as poor visibility).
LOT was below the performance target for both the second and third categories,
while BA was the only airline to exceed performance in each category for its
short-haul flights.
For full details of the programme see heathrowairport.com/noise.