Arun

Click on any of the following headings to go straight to the relevant section: 

·         Civil Aircraft

·         Police Aircraft

·         Military Aircraft

·         Model Aircraft

 

CIVIL AIRCRAFT

Noise from aircraft is not covered by normal nuisance legislation. The Environmental Protection Act 1990, which deals with statutory nuisances is  designed to deal with noise from fixed sources, rather than moving ones, and specifically excludes ’noise by aircraft other than model aircraft’.

Section 76 of the Civil Aviation Act (1982) states that no action can be taken in respect of nuisance or trespass from aircraft. All UK registered aircraft have to comply with noise certification requirements (Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1990).

The Civil Aviation Act 1982 also provides for the Secretary of State to designate airports for the purposes of regulating aircraft noise by setting limits and directions to airport managers. The Airports Act 1986 allows noise and track monitoring equipment to be specified by the Secretary of State at designated airports. Under s.35 of the Act, the Secretary of State may require an airport to establish consultation facilities with users and relevant local authorities and organisations to alleviate any problems arising. This currently applies to all national and regional airports and also to some smaller airports. At the moment, 59 airports are covered by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Light Aircraft, Helicopters, Microlights and Passenger Flights

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (Tel: 020 7453 6524) enforce safety legislation regarding civil aircraft through the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and there are three major safety rules which have a bearing on how close aircraft (including helicopters) can fly to inhabited areas. Basically, these state that aircraft must not fly within:

• 3,000 feet of a crowd of 1,000 persons;
• 1,500 feet of any congested area of a town, village or settlement (exceptions for landings and take-offs at licensed airfields);
• Within 500 feet of any person, vehicle, vessel or structure (except for landings and take-offs at licensed airfields).

If you feel any of these have been breached or have issues concerning them, complaints and enquiries can be addressed to:

                            Civil Aviation Authority, 
                            CAA House, 
                            Room K504, 
                            45 - 49 Kingsway,
                            London WC2B 6TE.

Website: http://www.caa.co.uk

Planning permission is required for permanent helicopter landing sites, although temporary use of land for up to 28 days a year is permitted. Furthermore, there is no limit on the number of take-offs and landings allowed on each of those 28 days.

General enquiries about noise from aircraft, including helicopters can be directed to the:

Department for Transport,
Aviation Environmental Division,
1/33 Great Minster House,
76 Marsham Street,
London, SW1P 4DR.

Tel: (0207) 944 5796
Fax: (0207) 944 2189
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/homepage/dft_home_page.hcsp

Further information is available from the Airfields Environment Trust

Airfields

There are currently over 7000 private aircraft flying from 280 airfields in the United Kingdom, and the number is set to double by the year 2000. There is no legislation regarding the operation of smaller airfields, although the Department of Transport has issued guidelines for consulting with other bodies. Other relevant powers are s.5 (CAA 1982), requiring environmental matters to be considered when licensing an airfield, and s.6, which directs the Civil Aviation Authority to take action to deal with noise, vibration, pollution or any other disturbance due to civil aviation.

Helicopters

Although the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 apply to helicopters, their ability to land almost anywhere can be a particular problem with regard to noise nuisance and currently very little can be done to alleviate the problem. Planning permission is required for permanent helicopter landing sites, although temporary use of land for up to 28 days a year is permitted under the General Development Order 1988. Furthermore, there is no limit on the number of take-offs and landings allowed on each of those 28 days. However, local planning authorities do have powers under Article 4 of the GDO to make a direction withdrawing these rights and requiring a planning application to be made for continued use of the site.

Airport Consultative Committees

Complaints about aircraft noise can also be referred to Airport Consultative Committees, which exist for each local airport and these represent the interests of local residents as well as airport users. Most light aircraft flying over Arun District are likely to be travelling to or from Shoreham or Goodwood Airports, although occasionally aircraft may originate from further afield, such as Southampton or Gatwick Airports. The relevant Airport Consultative Committee can be contacted via the following:

• Shoreham Aerodrome Consultative Committee:
  01273 296900
  http://www.shorehamairport.co.uk/committee1.asp
• Goodwood Aerodrome:
  01243 755061
  http://www.goodwood.co.uk/2004/aviation/welcome.htm
• Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee: 
  01243 777409
  http://www.ukaccs.info/gatwick/
• Aircraft noise complaints about Gatwick Airport should also be referred to the Gatwick Noise Complaints Line (0800 393 070) and Gatwick Airport Ltd. (01293 504192). The Gatwick Airport website can be found at http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/gatwick/

Airport Consultative Committees are brought together as the Liaison Group of UK Airport Consultative Committees: http://www.ukaccs.info/

POLICE HELICOPTERS

MILITARY AIRCRAFT

MILITARY AIRCRAFT
 

Ministry of Defence,
DAS LA,
Zone H,
Floor 5,
MOD Main Building,
Whitehall,
London SW1A 2HB.

There is also a dedicated 24-hour telephone complaint line (0207-218 6020).

 MODEL AIRCRAFT

The Civil Aviation Act does not apply to model aircraft. However noises which are caused by model aircraft can be dealt with under noise nuisance legislation in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which is enforced by the District Council.  A Statutory Noise Nuisance is defined in the EPA (1990) as "noise emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance".

Additional Useful Links:

Aviation and the Environment Databank: http://www.aet.org.uk/dbank/noise/legislation/legislation.htm

Aviation Environment Federation: http://www.aef.org.uk/

Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1990: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1990/uksi_19901514_en_1.htm

Aeroplane Noise (Limitation On Operation Of Aeroplanes) Regulations 1993: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1993/uksi_19931409_en_1.htm

The Aeroplane Noise Regulations 1999: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19991452.htm

The Aeroplane Noise (Amendment) Regulations 1999: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19992253.htm

The Air Navigation (Environmental Standards) Order 2002:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2002/20020798.htm

British Microlight Aircraft Association: http://www.bmaa.org/

British Model Flying Association: http://www.bmfa.org/index.html including useful information in handbook: http://www.bmfa.org/handbook/hbook_1.html

Defra: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ and http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/noise/index.htm

Department for Transport: Aviation: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_aviation/documents/sectionhomepage/dft_aviation_page.hcsp

Ministry of Defence: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Home/

Shoreham Airport Website: http://www.shorehamairport.co.uk/

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