Approach to Solving the Noise Issue

Letiste Praha, a.s. is attempting to minimize the noise caused to the surrounding environment by civil aviation traffic by implementing a number of operational, economic and technical measures. Thanks to the proactive approach taken by Letiste Praha, a.s., there has been no expansion since 1998 of the area affected by excessive noise, in spite of increases in the number of takeoffs and landings.

OPERATIONAL MEASURES

• a ban on takeoffs and landings without the corresponding noise certification
• restrictions on nighttime operations
• runway system preferences
• landing and departure rules
• engine testing rules
• rules for the use of reverse thrust engines
• restrictions on the use of backup power sources

More details about operational measures have been published in the Aviation Information Handbook AIP CR. For free access, please click on the following reference: http://lis.rlp.cz/ais_data/www_main_control/frm_cz_aip.htm and subsequently on the following links: AD2  → LKPR PRAHA/RUZYNĚ → TXT2 → LKPR AD 2.21 NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES.

These measures have been developed in step with aviation operations and respect societal and legal requirements.

ECONOMIC MEASURES

Establishment of noise fees in direct relation to aircraft noise levels

This provides a significant incentive for airlines to use the most up-to-date/quietest aircraft at Prague Airport. The amount of the noise fee for aircraft whose MTOW is more than 9 tons depends upon the noise category for the aircraft which has been designated by Letiště Praha, a. s. The noise categories were created in keeping with the international regulation ICAO ANNEX 16/I. Revenues from noise fees are used to cover costs for aviation noise monitoring and since 1998, they have been used to finance the noise mitigation   processes in the protected noise zone around Prague Ruzyne Airport and to cover all other activities connected to the aircraft noise issue.

   Noise Level Categories

* Noise Level Category 5 – introduced in November 2006 as part of a new aircraft noise categorization methodology.

Aircraft landings by individual noise level categories in % ( Category 1: quietest; Category 5: noisiest acft )

More details about noise fees have been published in the AIP CR. For free access, please click on the following reference: http://lis.rlp.cz/ais_data/www_main_control/frm_cz_aip.htm and subsequently on the following links: GEN 4 → GEN 4.1 → 4.1.1.4 Noise charges - Praha/Ruzyně airport

 Introduction of special noise fees

• for not following slot coordination
• for breaching nighttime operations rules
• for breaching visual approach rules

TECHNICAL MEASURES

Announcement of the Prague/Ruzyne Airport Noise Protection Zone

A noise protection zone has been declared around Prague/Ruzyne Airport – see map:  Placement of stationary measurement stations and the noise protection zone around Prague/Ruzyne Airport. The noise protection zone complies with legal requirements. A basic condition is that within the boundaries of the Noise Protection Zone, the noise limit for air traffic during the daytime and nighttime noise limits cannot be exceeded (L_AeqD = 60dB during the day and L_AeqN = 50dB at night). The noise limit is based upon a typical flight day - see noise monitoring. Letiště Praha, a.s. carries out an extensive program of noise mitigation within the Noise Protection Zone.

Aircraft Noise Mitigation Program

Since 1998, there has been a complete exchange of windows and balcony doors for noise-resistant models with the prescribed sound insulation. The focus is on so-called protected areas encompassing apartments and family houses, schools and preschools, structures which serve healthcare and social purposes and functionally similar buildings in villages and urban areas within the Noise Protection Zone around Prague/Ruzyne Airport. 

Planning

The primary objective of planning is to ensure that the number of people living with excessive noise due to air traffic does not increase. The airport's Noise Protection Zone has been incorporated into the zoning plan of the villages and influences further use of the land in this way. The operator of Prague/Ruzyne Airport makes comments on zoning plans in surrounding villages and developmental aims in the surrounding area on an ongoing basis.

Monitoring aviation noise and aviation routes

The ANOMS 8 system for monitoring aviation noise and aviation routes has been operated since 1/1/2008 by the accredited MaREXCOM laboratory (CIA accreditation awarded 3/25/2009), a partner of the Australian firm Lochard. The company has experience with monitoring systems in more than 130 airports around the world. Letiště Praha, a.s. has user level access to the system.

The monitoring of aviation noise and aviation routes is currently an essential tool for Letiště Praha, a.s. in resolving noise issues.

The monitoring system of Airport Prague currently  includes:

• 13 stationary measuring stations with 13 EMU meteorological stations
• 2 mobile measuring station
• Letiště Praha a. s. terminals
• MaREXCOM and Lochard operations center
• hardware and software for data transfer and processing

Visualisation of the Current Monitoring System Infrastructure

The system constantly monitors the acoustic pressure level, including accompanying meteorological conditions. The data measured are transferred to a server where a correlation is made between noise events and individual flights, and the data is saved. Flight trajectories may be shown in 2-D and 3-D. The levels of sound pressure can be presented using variable descriptors in relation to the purpose of the generated report. An integral part of the system is also a SW module for dealing with complaints.

Placement of stationary measurement stations and the noise protection zone around Prague/Ruzyne Airport

1. Jeneč
2. Červený Újezd
3. Unhošť
4. Pavlov
5. Hostivice
6. Dobrovíz
7. Kněževes
8. Horoměřice - centre of the town
9. Přední Kopanina
10. Horoměřice - SE margins
11. Řepy
12. Bílá Hora
13. Suchdol

Location of the Stationary Measuring Stations and Prague Airport NPZ

Mobile measuring stations are used by Prague Airport at locations where there are no stationary measuring stations. Mobile stations are used namely at times of the main runway RWY 06/24 closure due to its regular spring and autumn maintenance.

Aviation-generated noise and flight path adherence monitoring is presently an essential tool employed by Prague Airport in regards to dealing with the noise issue.

Used abbreviations and glossary:

1 kt - 1 knot = 0.514 m/s
NM - nautical mile
AIP ČR - Aeronautical Information Publication Czech Republic
RWY - runway
ATC - Air Traffic Control
SID - Standard Instrument Departure 
DME - Distance Measuring Equipment
MTOW - Maximum Take Off Weight of aircraft 
NPZ - Noise Protection Zone of Prague airport
NTMS - Noise and Track Monitoring System
Izophones / Noise contours - curves connecting places with the same sound pressure level