§ 12. Mr. Currieasked the Secretary of State for Air what measures are being taken to reduce the noise made by jet aircraft; and what steps are being taken by way of the stationing of such aircraft away from the vicinity of built-up areas or otherwise to protect members of the public from the inconvenience and annoyance of such noise, especially at night.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Christopher Soames)Much research into the problem of jet engine noise is being carried out under the auspices of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.
We do what we can to avoid siting operational and training units close to built-up areas, and no night flying is done which is not necessary for operational efficiency.
§ Mr. CurrieIs my hon. Friend aware that much alarm and annoyance is caused to residents close to air stations, sited near built-up areas, and will he take measures to see that as little annoyance as possible is caused, particularly by station heat-ups?
§ Mr. SoamesIf my hon. Friend will give me details of what he has in mind at the station concerned, I shall be very glad to look into them.
§ Mr. UsborneWhat is the normal minimum height at which aeroplanes of this type are expected to fly in the ordinary course of events? Is it some 2,000 feet, as it used to be, and, if it is, surely now that jet engines make so much more noise the height should be raised?
§ Mr. SoamesThe question' has to do with airfields close to built-up areas. When landing on an airfield, an aeroplane has to go from whatever height it has been down to zero feet.