Who is who

Airlines and aircraft operators:

• Comply with established aircraft noise standards and aircraft type for flight use, airport curfew and scheduling requirements;
• Comply with flight paths and established noise abatement procedures;
• Determine whether to adopt noise efficient aircraft design, technology and operating procedures;
• Participate in noise reduction plans and trials.

Airlines and industry (aircraft manufacturers):

• Contribute to noise reduction initiatives, including input into proposed noise abatement procedures;
• Design, apply and review noise abatement procedures together with air services and airports;
• Interdependencies assessment;
• Flight data analysis;
• Develop new plane concepts and commercial offerings to improve noise performance (i.e. reduce aircraft source sound generation).

• Develop, design and publish Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP) and flight paths while following established rules and procedures;
• Develop, design and publish certain kinds of noise abatement procedures after consulting with other stakeholders;
• Provide air traffic control services and manage aircraft departures and arrivals according to flight paths;
• Manage and control air traffic according to environmental restrictions regarding capacity, aircraft types, delay time, operating limits, etc.

Policy body:

• Develop policy and create the regulatory framework for the aviation industry;
• Develop a national plan for the management and control of aircraft noise (EU Regulation 598/2014);
• Process and approve of specific regulations (airport curfews, certain activities and development in airports – reverse-thrust use, preferential runways, etc.);
• Regulate and oversee the management of national airports;
• Oversee the regional and local government regarding the planning, development and land-use of the airport and its surroundings;
• Represent their country at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Committee on Aviation Environment Protection (CAEP).

Safety body:

• Certificate aircraft compliance with noise standards;
• Approve and validate for the implementation of new technologies;
• Oversee the flight paths and noise abatement procedures;
• Regulate safety-related activities that affect any measures to reduce noise;
• Ensure that proposed changes to the airspace adequately consider environmental implications.

• Define and approve country noise regulations for minor and major airports;
• Define and approve aviation activities (leisure and training) and types of aircraft (based on ICAO standards);
• Define and approve noise limits in consideration of urban areas, infrastructure and activities;
• Define and approve the methodology and conditions for calculating noise forecast, noise contours and noise measurements.

• Manage land-use planning around airports and under flight paths;
• Work in partnership with airports to ensure zoning accuracy with noise exposure information;
• Often manage small airports (including airports with flight training and helicopter operations);
• Facilitate access to relevant information and provide advice.

• Choose housing location and house improvements (for instance, noise insulation);
• Insist on full disclosure by vendors and intermediaries;
• Participate in communication forums, bring forward their views and contribute to the management of noise issues affecting their community;
• Educate themselves on aircraft noise exposure near airports and under flight paths;
• Suggest ideas for noise reduction improvement in the communication forums;
• Can influence airports through resisting/challenging any proposed changes and through complaints.

(for example, environmental department at the airport or environmental department at the air services)

• Undertake noise monitoring (for example, use Noise and Flight Path Monitoring System);
• Provide noise information services, reports, factsheets and other documentation about aircraft noise and flight operations;
• Provide help for reporting and resolving complaints;
• Analyse trends and identify issues to address;
• Participate in communication and technical noise forums, present relevant information;
• Proactively seek improved noise outcomes for the community;
• Prepare Aircraft Noise Exposure (ANE) forecasts (noise footprints for future scenarios) to support land-use planning, write reports about ANE of the previous years in order to control noise exposure;
• Control curfew periods and noise rules and provide reports to the authorities.