Safety or Silence Available to Purchase

The papers presented at the biennial Convention of the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers had two broad themes concerned with noise abatement — ‘Understanding the problem’ and ‘The way ahead’. The former opened with a consideration of the legal and social aspects of the aircraft noise problem, which have to be reconciled with safe navigation. Three possible radical cures have been considered: quieten the aircraft; take the aircraft away from the people; or the people away from the aircraft. Restrictions on night movements and quieter engines all help, but more forward planning at airports would be of great assistance.