Airport Trial Aims to Reduce Aircraft Noise

A new trial is expected to result in a reduction of noise from aircraft arriving at London Luton Airport (LLA) - benefiting those living under the flight path in Stevenage and the Chiltern villages.

LLA is asking airlines to change their standard operating procedures by delaying the deployment of aircraft landing gears until around 5 nautical miles before touching down. Depending on their operating procedures, airlines usually deploy landing gear between 6 and 10 nautical miles before touch down.

As an aircraft makes its final approach to land, most noise is caused not by the engines, but from the flow of air over the fuselage as drag is created to slow the plane down. Delaying the deployment of the landing gear should reduce drag and therefore mitigate noise for those living near the flightpath.

The six week trial will measure noise levels at strategic locations along the existing flight path to understand what noise reduction has been achieved compared with previous months. If successful, LLA will work with its airline partners to make this a standard procedure whenever it is safe to do so.

Neil Thompson, LLA’s Operations Director says “We will never be able to eliminate aircraft noise entirely, but we are committed to doing all we can to minimise the impact of our operations where possible. This trial is yet another example of how we are working constructively with our local communities to explore practical solutions while ensuring we maximise the positive social and economic benefits a successful airport brings to the local area and UK as a whole.“

As part of their ongoing community engagement programme members of the airport’s Flight Operations Team held a drop-in public surgery at Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre on 27^th June, where they updated local residents about the trial and other initiatives. The next event is planned for Whitwell on 25th July. 

More details are available at London-luton.co.uk/noise

Anyone wishing to contacting the noise team can do so by emailing noise@ltn.aero or by calling 01582 395382.