News: Birmingham Airport shows off noise tracking system
Flights > News > # 760 (31/03/2006)
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Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden, recently visited Birmingham International Airport to officially launch two new systems to improve noise management and aircraft track-keeping. These will improve the Airport's ability to monitor and investigate activity - and to communicate more effectively with local community and its airlines.
The Airport has upgraded its aircraft track-keeping and noise monitoring system known as ANOMS 8. It is the first airport in Europe, and one of the first in the world to have the system. Designed by market leader in airport noise management installation, Lochard, the new system provides the latest technology to enable the Airport to track aircraft movements and monitor the associated noise levels. ANOMS 8 will also assist in identifying noise violations, off-track departures, as well as providing detailed maps and sound recordings, and offers an advanced database to help the Airport's Environment Team handle complaints.
Meanwhile, the Airport has launched 'Operation Pathfinder' - a scheme to award airlines for good track-keeping. BIA will use ANOMS to work with its airlines to improve track-keeping performance. Using data provided by ANOMS, the Airport will be able to develop a monthly league table of good and bad track-keepers and aims to achieve 95% or more aircraft 'on-track' every month. Already since trialling the new system BIA has been able to see that in January 97.6% of all commercial traffic were on track, and in February 96.8% were compliant. Biannual meetings will be held with the airlines to discuss track-keeping issues and to facilitate the sharing of best practice between airlines.
Caroline Spelman MP, said, "By making these investments, Birmingham Airport is trying to take account of its social and environmental responsibilities and acknowledged that engagement with the local community is vital to its success. The local community welcomes better communication and more open and transparent ways of reporting on airport operations and I therefore think that this is a step in the right direction to improve community relations and reduce anxiety about airport activities."
Richard Heard, the Airport's Managing Director, added, "Since we began monitoring aircraft noise and flight paths at Birmingham back in 1993, using the first ANOMS package, we have been able to offer an essential service to the local community by effectively investigating residents concerns and complaints, and monitoring the policies and procedures in place to limit the impact of aircraft activity on our neighbours. This new updated ANOMS system is a more powerful tool that will enable us to deliver a much better service to local people, helping to improve communication and enhance awareness."
Seven fixed noise monitors are located in areas surrounding the airport to continually monitor noise levels. The noise levels are then combined with radar data to accurately locate the flight path of aircraft and their associated noise levels. As part of the upgrade, all of the existing fixed noise monitors have been replaced with new equipment, and a new portable terminal has enabled the Airport to monitor noise at specific locations in the community.
The Airport offers opportunities for local community groups to view the system and increase their understanding of the Airport's noise monitoring programme. Alternatively, the new ANOMS 8 system can operate in demonstration mode on a laptop so that a much wider audience can find out more about noise and track keeping issues at Birmingham International Airport.
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