FAQs
Isn’t it against the law to fly at night & who allows night flights anyway?
What are the noise restrictions for night flights?
Why are aircraft flying over me (north easterly or south westerly operations) when there is no wind?
Are more easterly operations due to climate change? When will the wind change?
Have the flightpaths been changed – I’ve never noticed aircraft over my area before?
Can I get compensation for noise disturbance?
I need details of Noise and Blight Schemes.
What’s the point of complaining/what happens to the complaints?
How will I be disturbed by aircraft noise?
In order to check this we require your full current or intended postal address, including postcode. We will check our Noise and Track Keeping computer system to see if you are affected by Stansted operations and then respond to you explaining how you are affected. We will send an information pack which explains Stansted’s operations. This will include maps of typical arrival patterns, departure routes and literature on noise as well as more specific maps which show your location in relation to these aircraft tracks.
Isn’t it against the law to fly at night & who allows night flights anyway?
There has never been a night ban at Stansted Airport. All the aircraft using Stansted during the night are operated in accordance with the night restrictions set by the Department for Transport (DfT).
The DfT imposes restrictions on night flights in order to preserve a balance between the need to protect local communities from excessive aircraft noise at night, and the operation of services where they provide economic benefits. The decision to allow night flights, therefore, is a policy matter for the Government.
What are the noise restrictions for night flights?
The most recent restrictions were introduced in June 2006 and consist of three main elements as follows:
- A maximum number of flights during each season (summer and winter) between 11.30pm and 6.00am;
- A supplementary quota system to encourage the use of quieter aircraft. Aircraft types are given a Quota Count (QC) value, according to how much noise they make on landing and take-off, of QC0, 0.25, 0.5, QC1, QC2, QC4, QC8 or QC16, the noisiest category being QC16. Aircraft movements score these QC values against a maximum allowable Quota for each season (summer and winter) between 11:30pm and 6am, “the night quota period”.
- Aircraft of QC16, QC 8 and QC4 cannot be scheduled to operate between 11pm and 7am.
Why are aircraft flying over me (north easterly or south westerly operations) when there is no wind?
Air Traffic Control (ATC) are responsible for deciding the direction of operation and make their decision based upon a number of factors, including: the current prevailing wind speed and direction here at the airfield, both on the ground and in the air (what is happening at 1000ft and 2000ft above ground is also very important); the forecast for the next 4 to 6 hours; and information from pilots. The position is kept constantly under review and any changes made in the light of all relevant factors at the time. The weather forecast made by the Met Office is not a reliable indicator for what is happening at Stansted Airport since the Met Office forecast to the public is general and relates to ground level.
Are more easterly operations due to climate change? When will the wind change?
In recent years the prevailing wind direction in the Stansted area has been from the south west which has resulted in approximately 65% of aircraft operations being in a westerly direction and approximately 35% in an easterly direction. ATC is responsible for deciding the direction of operation, and this is determined by wind speed and direction here at the airfield. The percentage of westerly/easterly operations in any period therefore will vary. There can be quite a wide variation from year to year, individual months vary widely and there is no correlation between the same months in different years.
Have the flightpaths been changed – I’ve never noticed aircraft over my area before?
There has been no change in policies relating to how Stansted operates, including how ATC direct aircraft, nor in the position of the Noise Preferential Routes (NPRs), the stacks where arriving aircraft ‘queue’ whilst waiting to join the Instrument Landing System (ILS) or the position of the ILS radio beams which aircraft use to bring them into land on the last stage of their journey. These routes have been in place for nearly 20 years.
Can I get compensation for noise disturbance?
Aircraft noise is specifically exempted from the controls in general environmental protection legislation because it is already controlled by civil aviation legislation. Basically, the Civil Aviation Act 1982 provides that no action shall lie in respect of trespass or in respect of nuisance, by reason only of the flight of an aircraft over any property so long as the provisions of the legislation and any relevant Air Navigation Orders have been complied with.
However, BAA Stansed runs several schemes developed to provide noise insulation for noise sensitive buildings, a financial package for relocation assistance for residents in the noisiest areas around our airports and a scheme developed for those residents affected by day and night noise. (See below for details).
I need details of Noise and Blight Schemes.
Please see www.stanstedairport.com/noise and click on the Consultations and Schemes tab where you will find details of all our noise and blight schemes. Alternatively, please contact the Schemes Administrator, James Hatfield, on 01279 663741 or email james_hatfield@baa.com.
What’s the point of complaining/what happens to the complaints?
Every complaint received by the Noise Communications team is registered and investigated, and responded to if requested. A specialised complaint handling service is used, combining a database, mapping system and flight and noise records from the Noise and Track Keeping computer system. BAA Stansted recognises that a key part of our commitment is the need for consultation with the local community and as part of this commitment complaint details are forwarded on quarterly to the Stansted Airport Consultative Committee (STACC). STACC is made up of representatives from DfT, local government, airport users, environmental groups and other interested parties. For further details, please visit www.stacc.info.
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