A consortium of industry organisations has produced a plan to make a low-noise approach technique common practice, which they claim could enable quieter and less polluting airliner descents.
Although the UK is the first to make the system an industry code of practice for some of its busiest airports, Eurocontrol is working with Aeroports de Paris, France and Amsterdam Schiphol, the Netherlands, to combine techniques to control noise levels.
The cornerstone of the plan involves continuous descent approaches at all times unless safety considerations prevent them, according to the guidelines on "noise from arriving aircraft" recently published by the UK group. Airtours International, British Airways, airport operator BAA, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, National Air Traffic Services and the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions make up the development team. The concept involves air traffic control, flight crews and airports co-operating to ensure the approach path does not require the aircraft to level out and apply power when it gets below about 6,000ft (1,800m).
The proposals could make the aircraft's descent perceptibly quieter from approach holding-point to instrument landing system establishment, which occurs at 2,000-3,000ft and around 7nm (13km) from the threshold. Procedures for lowering full flap and undercarriage later on final approach would reduce noise.
Design of runway exits that minimise the need for reverse thrust after touchdown cut noise in the airport vicinity, says the guide.
Source: Flight International
