The noise caused by air traffic at Helsinki Airport and the changes in noise levels are being monitored in an active and collaborative manner. The noise caused by air traffic is managed by, for example, switching from noisier plane types to quieter models, lower-noise flight methods and with the help of land use and zoning measures. According to monitoring reports on noise management, the number of people who are exposed to noise has increased, but solutions are also being sought actively.
The noise management group of Helsinki Airport, which includes several actors and is convened by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and led by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, monitors the noise situation at Helsinki Airport as well as any changes therein on a yearly basis.
“The collaborative management group is used to convene the most pertinent parties when it comes to comprehensive noise management. The areas that are within and around Helsinki Airport’s noise area are set to feature an increasing rate of residential construction. Collaboration in the management of air traffic noise is valuable for both the actors in the field and residents,” says Director General Kirsi Karlamaa from Traficom.
Buffer zone-oriented thinking gains ground in municipalities
Construction-related options represent an effective method for air traffic noise management. Some of the region’s municipalities have voluntarily adopted the buffer zone approach, with specific regulations for sound insulation in residential buildings that are located in areas that are near the airport’s air traffic noise area. The goal of the buffer zone approach is to prepare in advance for variations in runway traffic and the long-term growth of air traffic.
“This is forward-looking noise management. The purpose of the management group is to host constructive and open discussions and to discover common, sustainable, long-term and functional solutions,” explains Chief Adviser Outi Ampuja who is responsible for leading the noise management group.
The annual report of the noise management group summarises the overall noise management situation at Helsinki Airport
On the basis of the information provided by various indicators, Helsinki Airport’s noise management group anticipates how the goals of noise management are expected to be reached in the future, and what procedures different officials and other participants have made and will make in order to control air traffic noise and its harmful effects, using a balanced approach.
The management group’s second annual report provides an overview on noise management and the related future policies. The annual report can be found on Liikennefakta.fi (External link) and its appendices include the indicator data provided by Finavia and the municipalities in the area, which are used to perform the annual monitoring activities. More comprehensive monitoring of noise management objectives will be conducted every five years.
“According to our annual monitoring activities, the number of residents who are exposed to air traffic noise has increased for the second year in a row. Of course, this figure is affected by for example wind conditions and runway renovations, but we find this trend troubling, especially since future estimates show that air traffic at Helsinki Airport is set to increase. In addition, we need to be able to provide this information to, say, those who are thinking about moving to a region that is affected by air traffic noise,” notes Ampuja.
“We must monitor the situation actively, as being exposed to noise that exceeds risk limits can have many adverse effects on health-related issues, such as cardiovascular diseases. Last autumn, the WHO published its new thresholds for noise (External link), and they were increasingly strict for noise caused by air traffic,” Ampuja concludes.
Use the map window to see the current zoning situation in the noise area
The group has published its own map, which demonstrates the current zoning situation and plans for residential land (External link) use in the noise area and in the so-called buffer zone. The map is solely indicative in nature, as the time frames of any plans for land use in new areas can span several decades, and thus they are subject to several uncertainty factors.
The noise situation at Helsinki Airport will be compared to the objectives for noise management defined in Traficom’s decision in 2015 on noise-related operating restrictions at Helsinki Airport: Noise-related operating restrictions at Helsinki Airport (External link).
Further information
Chief Adviser Outi Ampuja, tel. +358 29 534 5276, outi.ampuja(at)traficom.fi, Twitter @OutiAmpuja