Information About Flight Tracks & Aircraft Noise
If you live near to London Stansted, or are thinking of moving to the area, this section of the website provides valuable information about flight tracks and aircraft noise.
The aim of this trial, which was suggested by the Airport's Noise and Track Keeping Working Group (NTKWG) following community feedback, was to reduce the number of arriving aircraft that overfly Hertford, Ware and Hoddesdon during the night between 23:30 and 06:00.
London Stansted supported the proposal on a trial basis as part of the airport's commitment to working with local communities to help reduce the environmental impact of flight operations where possible.
The trial, which ran from 1st March 2013 to 30th April 2013, was also supported by NATS and the Department for Transport (DfT).
Are you moving to an area near the airport? Do you want to know if or how a local community is affected by aircraft noise?
If so, this part of the website will provide you with some useful information. By clicking on the links below you can find out information about the areas where you live or work and understand how departing and arriving aircraft could affect you.
If you would like a detailed understanding of how noise affects your individual property please contact the Noise Communications Team.
Every two years the airport requests the Civil Aviation Authority to produce maps which show where aircraft fly when coming into, and departing from, the airport.
Each year the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) calculates the noise exposure around London Stansted Airport on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT). A computer model uses noise data to to produce an estimated noise exposure surrounding the airport. The model also calculates the emission and propagation of noise from both arriving and departing air traffic.
At London Stansted, there are a few local operating procedures that aircraft are requested to follow.
Pilots should avoid flying over the centre of Bishop's Stortford, unless for safety reasons. They should also avoid flying over Sawbridgeworth and Stansted Mountfitchet at heights below 2,500ft above sea level. Aircraft must also avoid flying over St Elizabeth’s Centre, Much Hadham at a height lower than 4,000ft above sea level.
In order to respond to community concerns about aircraft noise, London Stansted has a number of mobile community noise monitors. We work with community representatives to agree on where these are best deployed in response to community concerns.
Those living or working very close to the airport may hear noise from aircraft that are still on the ground. Unlike the noise limits that apply to departing aircraft, there are no limits on other sources of noise that originate from the airport. However, at London Stansted we recognise the importance that the interests of the local community are taken into account.
London Stansted had monitored, reported on and managed air quality for over a decade and has well established processes and procedures in place. The air quality monitoring around the airport shows that it is well within the regulatory EU air quality limits. The trend for air quality around London Stansted has been one of continual improvement.
If you believe you are experiencing aviation fuel odour problems, we'd like to hear from you and we'll work with Uttlesford District Council's Environmental Health team to investigate your complaint.
London Stansted provide mitigation measures for aircraft noise impacts in the local community by the provision of acoustic insulation for properties. This includes:
Of the 1,044 qualifying properties for noise insulation, 517 properties (c.50%) have taken up the scheme and London Stansted has provided in excess of £1.4 million of noise insulation since the scheme began in 2004.
Although at London Stansted this is an extremely rare occurrence, we do have a published policy which explains the procedures and support available to those who believe their property may have been damaged by a vortex strike.
We hope that our dedicated section of the website for noise provides answers to all the possible questions you may have. However, if you can't find what you're looking for, we'd like to hear from you.
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