The Municipality of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is calling for new restrictions on general aviation at its airport.
Working in conjunction with airport authorities and the General Aviation at Rotterdam Airport (GARA) group ,which represents user interests at the airport, the local authority has signed a declaration agreeing to measures that will curb noise caused by recreational flights.
The organisations have agreed to an eventual ban on aircraft weighing less than 6,000kg (13,200lb), although this has been ruled out until alternative landing locations can be found.
Action now being introduced includes restrictions on smaller, propeller-driven aircraft to cut engine noise. Access by older aircraft types will slowly be phased out, but at present they have been assigned prescribed flight routes into the airport.
The moves follow complaints by local residents that noise levels are too high at the airport.
Source: Flight International
