Night aircraft noise

Night aircraft noise is the noise emitted by aircraft during the night. Night is generally understood to mean the period from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Nocturnal aircraft noise can have adverse health effects, for example sleep disorders through to insomnia , daytime tiredness and reduced performance, as well as cardiovascular diseases and, according to the latest findings (for example according to the NORAH study), also depression. The health impairments go beyond the extent of a disorder or annoyance. The sleep has significant regenerative functions, interacting with vital autonomic functions such as breathing and circulation, it strengthens the immune system and transported learned into long-term memory.

health

The health consequences depend on the aircraft noise exposure , i.e. primarily on factors such as the volume of the noise at the sleeper's ear and the frequency of the noise events occurring. A noise event can have different effects depending on the sleep phase of the person concerned (see sleep rhythm ).

The extent of the health disturbances caused by aircraft noise is still disputed - also scientifically - since aircraft noise research sometimes comes to very different results. Epidemiological studies are intended to determine permanent effects on the health of larger population groups. There are also laboratory or field studies that are also intended to map the effect of noise on people. The laboratory and field study of the Institute for Aerospace Medicine of the German Aerospace Center , which is sometimes very complex in terms of method , is a. Criticized by a doctors' initiative because a selection was made when selecting the test subjects (renouncing sick people, seniors and children). For ethical reasons, children are generally not included in experimental studies. The study focused exclusively on the healthy person, with the assessment of noise pollution by analyzing the number of wake-up reactions, the excretion of stress hormones and performance. A study by the DLR comes to the conclusion that the threshold for aircraft noise-induced wake-up reactions should be set much lower, namely at a level of around 33 dB (A).

An epidemiological study by Eberhard Greiser, the former director of the Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine , has also come under fire. Factors such as previous illnesses, living conditions and social conditions are not taken into account. The limitation in the original study design to those with statutory health insurance is also problematic. However, the study also confirms previous research results. In a study commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency, statistically reliable connections between noise and high blood pressure in the vicinity of Cologne-Bonn Airport were found. Other factors that influence high blood pressure, such as age and body weight, were taken into account.

In the so-called LARES study at the “Berlin Center Public Health” ( Technical University of Berlin ), connections between annoyance and the risk of illness in relation to noise were examined. The evaluation shows that even chronic moderate noise annoyance for adults was associated with an increased risk of bronchitis, depression and migraines. The evaluation for severe annoyance shows that severe chronic aircraft noise annoyance must be classified as a serious health hazard. The disease risks for asthma and high blood pressure are therefore greatly increased.

With regard to sleep disorders due to noise, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends in its "Guidelines for Community Noise" (1999) that the average level in the bedroom should not exceed 30 dB (A) and a maximum level of 45 dB (A).

There is a ban on night flights at many European airports . In Germany some airports, e.g. B. Hahn Airport , an unrestricted night flight permit. At Cologne / Bonn Airport and Hanover Airport, there are also night flights with restrictions. Only aircraft classified in ICAO Chapter 3 and listed on the bonus list of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) are allowed at these airports. In addition, only three of the six arrival and departure directions are open at night at Cologne / Bonn Airport. The effectiveness of the “Chapter 3 bonus list rule” is limited, however, as only a few Chapter 3 aircraft are not listed on it (see ban on night flights).

At other airports there are sometimes exceptions for airlines that have their base or a main focus of maintenance at the airport in question. In practice, for example, the night flight ban at Düsseldorf Airport is restricted because airlines with a main focus on maintenance at the airport can land up to midnight in the event of delays or can land from 5:00 a.m. Airport operators try to use noise protection programs to reduce aircraft noise for those affected, for example by paying for the installation of soundproof windows (passive noise protection) or fans.

Measurement

Excerpt from an aircraft noise measurement by a private noise measuring station (DFLD) during the period 00:00 to 08:00

Aircraft noise measurements are carried out by the airports themselves, which are legally obliged to do so, or by municipal and private measurement stations. Airports generally only publish the continuous sound level in the form of monthly mean values, which do not allow any statements about individual sound events or maximum levels. Airports usually do not publish individual sound levels from individual overflight events (at night). The publication of private measurement results of the individual noise level thus supplements the publications of the airports and allows citizens affected by aircraft noise to complain based on specific noise levels of individual overflight events.

See: German Aircraft Noise Service

politics

Political parties involved in environmental policy, numerous aircraft noise initiatives and the doctors' initiative for undisturbed sleep as well as the Spessart Medical Network are calling for stricter noise limits to be set as part of the amendment to the law on protection against aircraft noise, for example 45 dB at night as the upper limit for the A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level, the definition of a core rest period (10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) and the establishment of a night flight ban, and the immediate implementation of the required protection goals and measures.

In December 2006, the Bundestag decided to amend the Aircraft Noise Protection Act. For nocturnal aircraft noise in the new night protection zones, a continuous sound level (outside) of 55 dB (A) has been formulated as a limit value for the establishment of passive noise protection. The Federal Association against Aircraft Noise criticizes the limit values of the Aircraft Noise Act because it does not sufficiently take into account the requirements of prevention. Active noise protection was not provided for in the Aircraft Noise Protection Act. Various exceptions to the building restrictions stipulated in the law within the noise protection zones, which run counter to prevention and are criticized by aircraft noise initiatives and economic actors alike, are also considered problematic.

The introduction of a general core rest period is problematic from the point of view of the companies operating in the aviation sector, since certain types of transport (e.g. express freight ) are dependent on transshipment at night. It is also necessary to fly in the marginal hours in order to operate the airport and flight operations profitably. As the example of Leipzig shows, flight operations can be permitted to a limited extent for economic services (here, landings for cargo are permitted at night, but no passenger flight operations).

Literature and studies

NaRoMi study 2004 ( Memento from September 16, 2009 in the Internet Archive )

LARES study 2005 ( Memento from May 27, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF file; 195 kB)

Eberhard Greiser et al .: Impairment of aircraft noise: drug consumption as an indicator of health impairment - a research project on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency 2006. (PDF file; 1.47 MB)

Night aircraft noise effects. Volume 1: Research report DLR FB 2004-07 / D. ISSN 1434-8454

Night aircraft noise effects. Volume 2: Methodology, Acoustics - Research Report DLR FB 2004-08 / D. ISSN 1434-8454 (PDF file; 2.09 MB)

Stephan Zaß: Action strategies for a sustainable land use policy in airport regions. Cologne 2008 (= dissertation; in cooperation with DLR. Table of contents )