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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Yau Shing-mu, in the Legislative Council today (May 27):
Question:
In reply to my question at the meeting of this Council on June 11 2014, the Government indicated that to minimise the impact of aircraft noise on the districts near the flight paths, the Civil Aviation Department had implemented a series of aircraft noise mitigating measures in accordance with the balanced approach to aircraft noise management promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the measures included requiring aircraft to avoid overflying populated areas, to adopt the noise abatement departure procedures prescribed by ICAO during take-off and the Continuous Descent Approach for landing, etc., in the small hours as far as possible. Yet, I have learnt that aircraft noise during the hours between 11pm to 7am the next day still often causes nuisance to the residents of quite a number of housing estates at present, making it difficult for them to fall asleep. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the monthly data recorded between May 2014 and April 2015 by various aircraft noise monitoring terminals on aircraft noise levels which reached 70 to 74, 75 to 79, and 80 decibels (dB) or above during the aforesaid hours;
(2) of the types of aircraft with noise levels reaching 80 dB or above last year, and the names of the airline companies to which such aircraft belonged; and
(3) whether it will further enhance the existing aircraft noise mitigating measures to reduce the nuisance caused to residents in the districts concerned; if it will, of the details?
Reply:
President,
Our reply to the various parts of the Hon Albert Chan's question is as follows:
(a) The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has 16 noise monitoring terminals. The aircraft noise events recorded by these terminals from May 2014 to March 2015 by month are set out in Annex 1. The data for April 2015 are pending verification and thus not available at the moment.
(b) The types of aircraft with noise events of 80 decibels or above recorded in 2014 and the operating airlines concerned are set out in Annex 2.
(c) The CAD has implemented a series of aircraft noise mitigating measures in accordance with the balanced approach to aircraft noise management promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). These measures include requiring aircraft to avoid overflying populated areas, to adopt the noise abatement departure procedures prescribed by the ICAO during take-off and the Continuous Descent Approach for landing, etc, in the small hours as far as possible. The CAD has also implemented a new set of flight procedures that aim to allow aircraft which could use satellite-based navigation technology in their flights to adhere closely to the nominal centre line of the flight track when departing to the northeast of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and making south turn to the West Lamma Channel, thereby keeping the aircraft at a distance away from the areas in the vicinity of the flight paths, and reducing the impact of aircraft noise on these areas.
Apart from implementing the aircraft noise abatement operational procedures mentioned above, the CAD has prohibited aircraft not meeting the relevant aircraft noise levels from landing and taking off in Hong Kong. Since 2002, aircraft not complying with the noise levels in Chapter 3 of Volume I, Part II of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chapter 3 noise levels) (Note) are not allowed to operate in Hong Kong. This requirement is in line with other major international airports. To strengthen this aircraft noise mitigating measure, starting from 2014, the CAD has imposed further restrictions on aircraft which are marginally compliant with the Chapter 3 noise levels to land and take off in Hong Kong. At present, the restrictions on noisy aircraft imposed by the CAD are more stringent than those imposed by other major international airports. The CAD will keep reviewing this arrangement from time to time and closely monitor the latest development of the ICAO, the international aviation industry and the operation of the HKIA with a view to considering the need to step up the relevant requirement.
With the advancement of aviation technology, aircraft engines are quieter than before, and the improved design of airframe has also helped reduce noise significantly. The CAD has been requesting airlines to introduce newer models of aircraft to replace the older ones, and to deploy quieter aircraft for night time operations. Airlines have been taking responsive actions, and the ratios of newer-model aircraft in their fleets are on the rise. The CAD will continue to monitor the progress made by the airlines in their aircraft fleet replacement and their deployment of quieter aircraft for night time operations, as well as the effectiveness of such measures.
Meanwhile, with a view to encouraging the airlines to deploy quieter aircraft, the Airport Authority Hong Kong is exploring the feasibility of introducing environmental charges/incentive schemes on the basis of the 24-hour operation of the HKIA, and by adopting the guidelines relating to aircraft noise charges issued by the ICAO. The aviation industry and the stakeholders will be consulted accordingly.
Note: Volume I, Part II of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation sets out the aircraft noise levels formulated by the ICAO at different times. The aircraft noise levels of Chapter 3, which were formulated at a later stage than those of Chapter 2, were more stringent. Generally speaking, the noise levels of Chapter 3-compliant aircraft were lower than those of Chapter 2-compliant aircraft.
Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:17
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