Who Does What?

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is a public corporation established by Parliament in 1972 as an independent specialist aviation regulator and provider of air traffic services in the UK.  One of it's four environmental goals is to contribute to a cleaner and quieter aviation industry.

Click here to visit the UK Civil Aviation Authority Website

The DfT is a Government body that has put in place a long-term framework aimed at balancing the delivery of social and economic benefits from aviation, with the need to reduce and mitigate the environmental impacts of air transport and airport development.

Click here to visit the Department for Transport Website

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is a government department in the UK that make policy and legislation. DEFRA works with others to deliver on its policies, including environmental protection and pollution control - which covers noise pollution.

Click here to visit the DEFRA Website

NATS provides air traffic navigation services to aircraft flying through UK controlled airspace and at several UK and international airports - including London Stansted. The overarching guiding principle of air traffic control is that safety is paramount. 

The airspace above our homes and places of work contains a network of corridors or airways. They mainly link busy areas of airspace known as terminal control areas, which are normally above major airports like London Stansted. All of these airways are designated as "controlled airspace", where aircraft fly under the supervision of air traffic controllers at all times.

Click here to visit the NATS Website

Airlines and their flight crew have a duty to operate their aircraft in order to comply with the various rules and regulations stipulated for flying in UK controlled airspace. The commander of an aircraft has the primary responsibility for the safety of his crew and passengers at all times.

ANMAC was set up by the Department for Transport (DfT) to advise them on policy relating to aircraft noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - these airports being 'designated' for the purposes of s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

ANMAC's membership includes representatives from London Stansted plus representatives from NATS, the Environmental Research and Consultancy Department (ERCD) of the CAA, the Scheduling Committees and a representative of the Consultative Committee at each of the three airports each accompanied by a technical adviser.

ANMAC meetings are held in private. This helps in the development of future policy and avoids the possibility of unnecessary anxiety among the communities affected by aircraft noise (or to raise false hopes).

As the airport's local planning authority, UDC ensure that the airport is compliant with all Section 106 planning obligations, some of which relate to aircraft operations.  UDC also investigate aviation fuel odour complaints received from the general public; they also are invited to formally and independently audit the noise complaints procedures annually.

STACC fulfils our obligations under section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (as amended by the Airports Act 1986) to have an independent consultative committee whose terms of reference are:

• To consider, scrutinise and advise on matters primarily concerning the management and administration of the Airport

• To consider the impact of the Airport on the local community, the economy, and the environment

• To consider matters affecting the experience of Airport users

• To consider the corporate affairs of the Airport.

Click here to visit the STACC Website

A sub-group of STACC, the aims of the groups are to:

• consider the impact of the Airport on the local community, the economy, and the environment and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to the Committee

• consider matters affecting flight tracks, noise, air quality, the conservation and discharge of water, waste, surface transport, biodiversity, archaeology and climate change, and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to the Committee

• share ideas and discuss best practices from other airports and organisations

• monitor appropriate performance strands of corporate responsibility at the Airport, including complaints

• liaise with the Noise and Track Keeping Working Group (NTKWG)

• liaise with the Stansted Area Transport Forum

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, please feel free to contact us.

Contact the airport with a noise enquiry