High Praise For Airport's Noise Team

Written by Julie Budden

Stansted’s commitment to its community and high levels of customer service has been praised following an audit of the airport's Flight Evaluation Unit (FEU) by Uttlesford District Council’s environmental team.

BAA Stansted's noise management team. (L to R) Graeme Wade, noise communications manager/ Duncan Smith, flight analysis Manager/Dr Andy Jefferson, head of environment/ John Thain, environmental standards manager.

Following an independent review into how the airport investigates and responds to noise concerns, the council this week published its findings and recognised Stansted’s FEU to be "well run and properly responsive to complaints".

Commenting on the report’s positive findings, Graeme Wade, BAA Stansted’s noise communications manager, said:

"I’m delighted with the outcome of the audit, and thank Uttlesford District Council for its thoroughness in carrying out the study. I’d also like to thank those in the community who help and advise us, particularly members of the Noise and Track Keeping Working Group, the independent monitoring body that works alongside our experts and technical professionals, and has among its membership a number of representatives drawn from the local community.

"We understand aircraft noise can be a real concern for people and we’ll continue to work hard to minimise the effects as far as we possibly can. We’re certainly not complacent and there’s always more that we can do. Just recently, we launched one of the most comprehensive public consultations on aircraft noise ever carried out by Stansted Airport. We want to know what people think of our draft Noise Action plan and I would encourage as many people as possible to visit our dedicated noise website (www.stanstedairport.com/noise) and fill out a questionnaire."

The audit, which took place on April 24, also praised the airport’s interactive noise website finding it "comprehensive and easy to use, in particular the internet based WebTrak system has provided a readily accessible way in which the local community can investigate their concerns".

Stansted Airport's FEU handles enquiries and complaints about aircraft noise - looking at the routes aircraft fly, their heights and the amount of noise they generate at fixed points around the airport. The department provides a vast array of information to the community and its team of experts are on hand to explain why areas are overflown, and what the airport is doing to help reduce disturbance.