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Noise of any description can be a very subjective and personal issue. What might annoy and irritate one person may not be heard at all by another. At home and at work, we often hear noise from various sources, for example, ventilation or heating systems that is hardly noticeable because of our familiarity with it or because it has no prominent features. Our hearing recognises information in the sounds we hear. Information we do not need or want is defined as noise, while the features of that noise that make us listen and take notice, are tones or changes in sound levels.
Turning more specifically to the Airport, aircraft noise is, understandably, a significant issue for some of our neighbouring communities. Achieving the most appropriate balance between the needs of a growing airport that serves as a major transport hub for millions of business and leisure travellers, and the rights and requirements of our nearest residential neighbours provides an ongoing challenge for Dublin Airport as it does for all airports of its size.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has endorsed the EU Directive 2002/30/EC concept of a ''balanced approach'' to aircraft noise management. This approach incorporates four key elements to the mitigation of noise levels at airports.
These are:
Aircraft noise is measured in decibels or dB for short. Modern subsonic jets are about 30 dB quieter than their first generation, similar sized counterparts. As a sound reduction of 10 dB is roughly equal to a halving of noise volume perceived, this technological development represents about a 90% reduction in perceived noise. All aircraft operating at Dublin Airport conform to the current ICAO standards and as older aircraft are phased out in the short term, this situation will continue to improve.
Responsibility for noise abatement operational procedures at Dublin Airport is shared by the Airport itself, the Irish Aviation Authority and the airlines that operate at the Airport.
In recognition of its own responsibilities in this area, Dublin Airport has introduced and continues to evaluate a number of initiatives to monitor aircraft noise levels and to mitigate their impact.
The primary objective of the noise & flight track department of the Dublin Airport Authority is to gather information on aircraft approach and departure routes and resultant noise levels at a number of key locations. In this context Dublin Airport has invested €1 million in the installation of a Noise and Flight Track Monitoring System. Purchased from Bruel & Kjaer in Copenhagen, Denmark, the noise and flight track monitoring system comprises four fixed NMTs (Noise Monitoring Terminals) which track and record arriving and departing aircraft located at:
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