GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION TECHNICAL CENTRE, OPP. SAFDURJUNG AIRPORT, NEW DELHI

AVIATION ENVIRONMENT CIRCULAR 1 OF 2011

File No. 04-01/2010-AED Dated: July 14, 2011 Subject: Noise Levels at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. 1. Introduction 1.1 Airports are major centers of attraction in urban areas. Their impacts are many and usually include economic, environmental and land-use issues, all of which may affect the future development of the airport.

1.2 Aircraft noise can be very disruptive to the lives of those who live close to airports. The effects are not uniform around the world and can be influenced by the type of aircraft that operate at an airport, the location and type of housing under a flight path, the hours that an airport operates and the number of flights. Though, today’s new generation aircraft are about 75% quieter than those built 40 years ago. However, the issue community annoyance due to aircraft operation is a matter of concern. 2. The Present Scenario

2.1 The noise levels have been broadly classified under four categories by Ministry of Environment & Forests vide The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000: Sl. No.

Category Limits in dB(A) Leq Day Time Night Time

1. Industrial area 75 70 2. Commercial area 65 55 3. Residential area 55 45 4. Silence area 50 40 2.2 An airport though falls under industrial area category, however, the noise levels are expected to be higher in the vicinity of the airport due to frequent aircraft movements. Most of the airports worldwide have defined a

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separate category known as “Airport Vicinity Zone” wherein the ambient noise levels are much higher than any other category of noise levels due to aircraft operation. 2.3 The airports are located either within or outside the city limits and is different in its operational characteristics, its social, economic and political situations, as well as in the type of land use in its surrounding areas. All of these factors must be taken into account while prescribing noise limits. 3. International Scenario/Practices

3.1 Several international standards and methods exist to determine noise limits during the day/night due to aircraft operation in the airport vicinity. All the above mentioned standards are developed taking into account the number of aircraft movements, type of aircraft operating at that airport, geographical location of the airport, etc. A list of few airports with noise limits are as follows:

Noise levels at International Airport Sl. No.

International Airport Country Permissible Noise Limits ( peak values)

1. JFK- New York USA 99dB (A) 2. Midway- Chicago USA No limits 3. Rio de Janerio Brazil 118.4dB (A) 4. Brussels Belgium 100dB (A) 5. Rome Italy 103dB (A) 6. Gatwick- London UK 94dB (A) 7. Heathrow - London UK 94dB (A) 8. Stansted -London UK 94dB (A) 9. Manchester UK 92dB (A) 10. Hong Kong Hong Kong No Limits 11. Melbourne Australia No Limits 12. Osaka Japan 107dB (A) 13. Kuala Lumpur Malaysia No Limits 14. CDG - Paris France 104.5dB (A)

3.2 It is pertinent to mention that permissible noise limits at above mention airport varies primarily due to the difference in their topographical locations, policies, approach path, etc. The airport situated in the northern hemisphere have lower noise limits than those located near the equator due to the fact that the air is more cold and dense which acts as a medium to absorb some noise.

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4. Applicability 4.1 This circular lays down the requirements to be followed by all concerned while carrying out aircraft operation at the IGI airport until the regular noise levels (both for day and night) are notified by the concerned Govt. Department i.e., by Central Pollution Control Board. 5. Requirements 5.1 In order to develop the permissible noise limits, real-time field data were collected from the noise monitoring stations installed at five locations outside IGI airport. Based on the certified noise levels for different aircraft being operated at IGI Airport and the actual field measurement, the permissible maximum and minimum noise levels for IGI airport were developed and are given below:

Category Limits in dB(A) Day Time Night Time

Airport zone 105 95

Day time – from 0600 hrs to 2200 hrs Night time – from 2200 hrs to 0600 hrs

5.2 No aircraft operators shall indulge in any activity related to aircraft operation that exceeds or intends to exceed the maximum permissible noise limits at IGI airport as mentioned in above during any part of the day. 5.3 Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) shall be regularly monitor the enforcement of this circular and intimate DGCA name of such airlines indicating aircraft type operated exceeding the prescribed limits on regular basis. 5.4 All airline operators are therefore directed to follow the directions containing in this circular meticulously. 6. Monitoring, Reporting and Surveillance

6.1 In order to ensure proper compliance of this circular, the airport operators shall follow the mechanism of monitoring and reporting regarding the noise monitoring of all airlines including foreign carriers. 6.2 The airport operators shall ensure the all air carriers follow the prescribed noise limits as mentioned in paragraph 5.1. 6.3 It will be the sole responsibility of the airport operators to furnish the relevant details to DGCA on the monthly basis containing the following information:

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a) Date-wise list of airlines who have exceeded the prescribed noise limits at IGI airport,

b) The maximum noise level as recorded by the noise monitoring system,

c) The details furnishing Flight No., Aircraft Registration No., Company to which the aircraft belongs, Country to which airline belongs, date, timings, departure/arrival, etc

The information provided by the airport operators shall be reviewed by DGCA to avoid any violation to this circular. 6.4 DGCA will monitor such cases where noise limits has been exceeded at IGI Airport may carry out surveillance of all such airports on quarterly basis to ensure proper compliance to this circular. DGCA may take action against such airline to avoid repetition of such incidences in future

(E.K. Bharat Bhushan)

Director General of Civil Aviation

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