News item | 15-03-2023 | 5:00 PM
The cabinet wants to tackle the noise nuisance around Schiphol and thus achieve a new balance between the environment and the airport. To achieve this, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers announced last year that he wanted to reduce the maximum number of air transport movements at Schiphol to 440,000 per year. At the same time, the intention to reduce the number of night flights from 32,000 to 29,000 was also reconfirmed.
Last year’s decision was a trade-off between various interests. For the noise-related part of that consideration, we go through the Balanced Approach. Within that European procedure, we must see whether it can be reduced
of noise nuisance can also be achieved by other measures. That is why there are various options in this consultation.
The government is giving all those involved the opportunity to respond to the proposed measures. This can be done during the consultation, which runs from 15 March to 15 June 2023.
Who is the consultation intended for?
Tackling noise nuisance by reducing flight movements has many effects. For the airlines, for Schiphol, for companies, local residents and travelers. It is important that all these interests
are taken into account and that the decision on the measures is taken carefully. The European Balanced Approach procedure is also followed for this purpose.
A requirement of the European Balanced Approach, which is laid down in European regulations, is that before proceeding to reduce the number of flight movements, it must first be examined whether less noise nuisance can also be achieved with other
measures can be achieved. That is why there are now three different combinations of measures.
All those directly involved are therefore allowed to give their opinion in this consultation round: local residents, interest groups, airlines and Schiphol. Do you want to participate? You can do that through www.internetconsultation.nl.
What does the cabinet want to achieve?
This consultation relates to possible measures to reduce noise nuisance around Schiphol in order to achieve the proposed noise target. The proposed measures should lead to significantly less noise nuisance in November 2024 than if no measures were taken:
- 20% fewer homes with a daytime noise level of 58 dB or higher;
- 20% fewer people who are seriously annoyed by a noise level during the day of 48 dB or higher;
- 15% fewer homes with a noise level of 48 dB or higher at night;
- 15% fewer people who are seriously disturbed in their sleep at a noise level of 40 dB or higher.
Which proposals are concerned?
The plans to reduce noise nuisance have been developed through a collaboration of various consultancy firms. They have examined whether the measures reduce noise nuisance sufficiently and what the possible consequences are, for example financially. It always involves a combination of measures, such as a reduction in the total number of flights, extending the ‘night period’ (in which stricter noise rules apply) or using the various runways in a different way.
There are three combinations of measures that can be considered: for all packages, this must have a result by November 2024.
Combination 1:
- Restrict secondary runway use
- ‘extending’ the period considered to be nighttime, during which stricter noise rules apply
- Partial closure of the Buitenveldertbaan runway
- Stimulate quieter aircraft through airport charges
- A maximum of 440,000 flight movements per year, of which a maximum of 29,000 at night
Combination2:
- Restrict secondary runway use
- ‘extending’ the period considered to be nighttime, during which stricter noise rules apply
- Partial closure of Buitenveldert
- Stimulate quieter aircraft through airport charges
- Reduction of night flights to a maximum of 25,000 per year
Combination3:
- ‘extending’ the period considered to be nighttime, during which stricter noise rules apply
- Stimulate quieter aircraft through airport charges
- A maximum of 440,000 flight movements per year, of which a maximum of 29,000 at night
One of the combinations before us does not contain a reduction to an expected 440,000 flights, but does, for example, include a sharper reduction in the number of night flights compared to the other two packages. Reducing noise nuisance for the environment is the ultimate goal, how this goal is achieved and whether various measures are feasible will be tested. That is why there are various options. After the consultation phase, the minister will
make a final choice.
Three tracks
Restoring the balance between the environment and the airport consists of three tracks. Firstly, the government wants to stop anticipatory enforcement as of 1 November 2023. This means that we are going back to the old system with standards for noise values, but we retain a number of benefits for the environment that have been implemented in recent years (such as the fact that the runways are used in such a way that it causes the least nuisance to the environment). By ending anticipatory enforcement, it is expected that there will still be room for a maximum of 460,000 flights at Schiphol.
The reduction of noise nuisance, which the cabinet believes will require a reduction in the number of flights, is the second step. The third step is to design a new system in which noise standards become leading, not the number of aircraft movements. Moreover, this system should lead to a permanent reduction in noise nuisance around the airport in the future. The design of this new system is expected to take several years.
More information
More information about the proposed measures can be found on the website Internetconsultatie.nl. Aviationindetoekomst.nl contains answers to frequently asked questions about the proposals and the procedure.
Soon after the start of the consultation, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management organizes information meetings at which the proposed measures are explained. The exact date will be widely communicated. In any case, check this out
aviation in the future.