§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what penalties were imposed on the operators of the 2,300 jet aircraft which exceeded the permitted daytime noise levels at London Airport during the second quarter of 1970, and on the operators of the fifty jet aircraft which committed a similar offence at night.
§ Mr. NobleThe rate of infringement of take-off noise limits at Heathrow was about 1.1 per cent. in the second quarter of 1970. This rate was higher than average (below 1 per cent.) and was caused by unusually difficult operating conditions, particularly the closure of one of the main runways during part of the time. 97W Airlines are notified of every infringement and are required to investigate and explain any which exceed 2PNdB (lesser differences cannot be detected by ear). Airlines and their pilots do their best to observe the limits, and there has as yet been no case for employing the sanction of denying them the use of the airport.