HACAN Newsletter October 2010

Government to consult on new aviation policy in 2012

The Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, in his first big speech on aviation announced that the Government will consult on a new aviation policy in early 2012.  But Mr Hammond told the Airport Operators Association Conference that the Government will start “seeking views” on a new policy next year.

In a wide-ranging speech the Secretary of State confirmed the Government’s opposition to expansion at Heathrow.  He said: “No government with a commitment to carbon reduction targets can adopt a crude ‘predict and provide’ approach to aviation capacity while aircraft CO2 remains an unresolved issue.  And no responsible government can ignore the local environmental impacts – especially noise – of airport development.  I hope we can now draw a line under the decision we have taken on runways and work together to map out how best to secure the future of the sector within the constraints that we have accepted”.

The firm opposition to expansion has been welcomed by HACAN but was it critical of Mr Hammond’s view that noise was less of a problem than in years gone by.  The Secretary of State told the Conference:  “Noise contours around airports have shrunk dramatically of course over the last 40 years – but at the same time, so has the tolerance of those who live in them”.   HACAN in our press release, said: “This was the one jarring note in the speech.  Although it is true that noise contours have shrunk, this doesn’t tell the whole story.  What needs to be taken into account is the sheer number of planes using Heathrow and other airports these days.  This is what people are complaining about”.

Read the full speech on www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/speeches/hammond20101025

Living under a flight path can give you a heart attack

A new study has found that living under a flight path increases the risk of a getting heart attack. The Swiss study discovered that people exposed to a daily average noise levels of at least 60 decibels are 30% more at risk of dying of a heart attack than those exposed to less that 45 decibels. Among those exposed to the higher decibel levels for 15 or more years, the risk was 50 per cent higher. Up to 200,000 people under the Heathrow flight paths experience noise averaging out at over 60 decibels.

To read more about the report: Living under a flight path 'can increase your risk of heart attack .

The report, ‘Aircraft Noise, Air Pollution, and Mortality from Myocardial Infarction’ can be read in Epidemiology, November 2010, Volume 21, Issue 6, pp 829-836. doi:10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181f4e634