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Night Flights/Noise Emissions - TNT
Background
International express delivery services are playing an increasingly important role in the UK economy. The Government has acknowledged that the ability to meet the world-wide rapid delivery requirements of modern businesses is important in assuring Britain's future success in a fiercely competitive global market.
As a leading provider of next day international deliveries, thousands of British businesses rely on TNT Express Services to convey time-sensitive documents and freight to and from Europe and beyond. Customers require TNT to collect consignments as late as possible in the day and deliver them as early as possible the next morning. To achieve this TNT has to operate aircraft outside normal business hours, including between 11pm and 6am (officially defined as night flights).
Standards on aircraft noise are set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) while the European Union's 'noise management' directive governs how member countries such as the UK deal with the issues of aircraft noise and night flights. The directive encourages countries to take a balanced approach, reducing the impact of noise through operational procedures, aircraft design, land use planning and, where appropriate, operating restrictions.
Current situation
At the moment the European 'noise management' directive is interpreted differently in different states, with some airports imposing drastic night flight restrictions.
In the UK, three airports - Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted - are 'designated', restricting night flights. Operators are allocated a set number of noise points per aircraft. For example, TNT currently has 440 points in winter and 585 in summer per aircraft - which we have been careful not to exceed. The current system means each take-off or landing of a TNT BAe146 Aircraft attracts a weighting of half-a-point. A TNT Airbus attracts a weighting of two points for each take-off and landing.
The Department for Transport has announced that these restrictions will continue until October 2005. The DfT has undertaken a consultation and is analysing the results. No date has been set for publication of its findings.
A proposal by the British Airports Authority to shut Stansted Airport to all night flights for 47 weeks in 2006 to allow for wholesale repairs to the runway has been opposed by TNT and other carriers. Negotiations are ongoing and it is hoped that a compromise can be reached to allow night flights to continue while runway repairs are carried out in phases.
Some MPs and residents in Leicestershire have launched a campaign to 'designate' Nottingham East Midlands airport. The government, which rejected a previous attempt in 2003, has indicated it is not in favour of designation.
TNT's position
We welcome sensible noise regulation and a balanced approach to this issue. We take the issue of noise very seriously and we have taken steps at all the airports where we operate to reduce the impact of night flights on local communities.
We comply with the ICAO's current noise restrictions and we have invested heavily in new aircraft to ensure we will meet the more stringent international standards applying to all newly designed aircraft from 2006. TNT pilots are also trained to use noise reduction procedures.
As a responsible operator we do not believe restrictions on night flights are necessary or desirable, as we are already voluntarily taking measures to reduce aircraft noise at its source and we will continue to do so.
If restrictions or even an outright ban are imposed carriers and the companies that rely on them could be forced to relocate abroad, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. Oxford Economic Forecasting calculated that over 20 years the loss of next day international delivery services would cost Britain £33 billion in lost GDP.
According to a CBI survey, 56% of companies polled said they would be very badly affected by the cessation of such services. This rose to 62% in Britain's hard pressed manufacturing sector and to over 90% in certain industries, such as computing, electrical engineering, and automotive.
Some 16% of all firms - 30% within the manufacturing sector - said they would possibly have to relocate outside the UK, while 49% of all firms expected to lose orders.
Key messages
A ban or further restrictions on night flights would have far reaching consequences for both for the express industry and British business. It would result in the loss of thousands of jobs and the potential relocation of some firms abroad.
TNT supports the European Union's 'balanced approach' to noise emissions, which when implemented effectively will meet the needs of business while reducing the number of people affected by noise.
As a responsible operator TNT believes that voluntary measures - working with airports and local communities to tackle aircraft noise at its source - are more effective than restrictions.
Further TNT Industry Issues:
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