The municipality of Zaanstad is not happy with the new nighttime flight path to Schiphol’s Polderbaan runway. Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) announced yesterday that residents of Uitgeest, Castricum, Heemskerk and Beverwijk no longer have to lie awake due to aircraft noise. According to alderman Breunesse van Zaanstad, Assendelft and Krommenie are now extra burdened with the noise of Schiphol.
The approach route to the Polderbaan at Schiphol, which from now on protects part of Kennemerland and the IJmond at night, is partly possible thanks to a new satellite system that is used by LVNL. In addition, the planes descend evenly and less engine power needs to be used.
Still, it made roaring press release from LVNL yesterday not only for relief among North Hollanders who have been awake for years from night flights. According to alderman Wessel Breunesse van Zaanstad, Schiphol’s traffic control has only shifted the problem to Assendelft and Krommenie. Breunesse had also advised the cabinet not to change the route.
According to the Zaandam alderman, residents of Assendelft and Krommenie are already suffering from the nightly approach route to the Polderbaan. He speaks of a waterbed effect. “Less nuisance should apply to everyone, but this is especially negative for Zaanstad,” Breunesse told NH Nieuws.
Minister Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management ignored Breunesse’s negative advice and thereby sidelined the municipality. Nevertheless, the alderman is not too pessimistic about the aviation policy of the cabinet.
End to all night flights
Breunesse: “Even after the announced shrinkage of Schiphol Harbers has shown that he reasons much more from the health of local residents and that his residents are more prominently involved in the development of the airport.” Nevertheless, Breunesse would like Harbers to go much further and to end all night flights to and from Schiphol.
Why night flights are important for Schiphol
The maximum number of flights at Schiphol will be reduced from 500,000 to 440,000 per year from November 2023. Of these, 29,000 are night flights.
Night flights are important for airlines such as Transavia, because they can use their fleet optimally. Thanks to the night opening, a Boeing 737-800 from Transavia can sometimes be used on European return flights up to three times a day.
Cargo flights also depart and land at Schiphol every night. These are often large, outdated Boeing 747s. The top 20 of flights about which last year the most complained are freight-only Boeing 747-400s.