§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his timetable is for consultation on schemes for the amelioration of noise from aerodromes; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of fitting silencers to light aircraft. [131949]
§ Mr. MullinWe published our consultation paper on control of noise from civil aircraft on 20 July. This proposes legislation to strengthen aerodromes' powers to establish and enforce noise amelioration schemes, and to enable the Secretary of State to designate an aerodrome requiring it to agree such a scheme with an appropriate local authority; together with related matters. The consultation paper will shortly be available on the Department's website. We have invited responses by 13 October. We shall study these carefully before making a decision.
386WTo be most effective, engine noise reduction technologies need to be applied at the design stage. The airframe and propellers are also significant sources of noise, and thus the success of retro-fitted silencers depends on the type of aircraft and operating conditions. They may also have an impact on aircraft performance; they would not be appropriate in any case where safety would or could be compromised as a result. The CAA can advise on their appropriateness in specific cases.