Let’s Cap Aviation! 
Nice that you found us
We help people who experience nuisances from aviation and worry about the impact of noise and emissions on their health
- We definitively understand your problems
- We can give support because we have experts that want to share expertise
- We put experts and activists from different airports and regions in contact to exchange experience and best practices
- We organize technical courses on aircraft noise and emissions related issues
- We support in legal and political battles, we have lawyers, economists, media experts and spin-doctors
- We represent citizens in international gremials (like the Industry does)
- We coordinate EU-wide and global actions and protests
We act in a lot of areas
Night flights | Dealing with aircraft noise | Noise and the WHO guidelines | Noise measurement | Noise Metrics | Airport growth | NOx and other emissions | Ultra fine particles | Challenge powerful organisations | Citizens Protest Groups | Noise and health risks | Find the way at European level | Identify best practices from all over the world | Economic costs of aviation | State Aid to Airports and Airlines | Hydrogen and synthetic fuels
Next webinar: Flying and Climate
Debi Wagner, author and one of America’s most experienced aviation campaigners, will discuss the situation in the USA.
Alice Corovessi, social impact entrepreneur, Managing Director of the non-profit organization INZEB and Coordinator for Greece of the EU Climate Pact, will outline the role and work of the EU climate pact ambassadors.
Afterwards there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Subscribe to our webinars
UECNA has put on a series of popular and informative webinars, covering a wide variety of topics.An overview with links to the recordings and presentations can be found here.
The week of John Stewart: No 12
Good Operational Practices Cut Noise
Some airports adopt good operational practices. Many don’t.
There are a number of operational practices which can reduce the noise from planes.
Arrivals
Continuous Descent Approach (CDA)
Aircraft can descend in one of two ways: either in a step-by-step fashion or using CDA. CDA can cut noise by between 2.5 and 5 decibels.
At Heathrow nearly 90% of aircraft use CDA. At many airports across Europe it is hardly used at all.
The angle of descent
International rules require aircraft to land a 3 degree angle. Some airports, such as London City with smaller planes and tall buildings to avoid, are permitted to land more steeply. On their final approach to London City planes land at 5.5 degrees. Heathrow is one of the very few large airports to try a steeper angle. It trialled a 3.2 degree approach. It was operationally possible but only had a small impact on noise levels – up to 0.5 decibel reduction. What could make more of a difference is what is known as a ‘two-segment approach’. This involves planes using a steeper angle – perhaps even 5 degrees – further away from the airport before reverting to 3 or 3.2 degrees for the last few miles as the plane steadies to land on the runway. Until trials have been done it is not possible to be certain of the noise improvements but they could be significant.
Lowering the landing gear
For modern aircraft landing gear is the dominant noise source on approach. When landing gear has been lowered noise levels increase by between 3 and 5 decibels. So, the later landing gear is lowered, the less noise. In order to get a stabilized approach landing gear needs to go down at an altitude of 1000–2000ft, about 2–3 minutes before touchdown. It is difficult for an airport to enforce the point at which landing gear is lowered but it is possible to highlight airlines and aircraft which lower it sooner than necessary. ‘
Departures
Rate of ascent
Common sense would suggest that the faster you climb, in order to get as high as you can as soon as possible, would reduce noise levels. In essence, that’s correct but it is a little more complex. If a plane uses all its power to climb steeply on leaving the runway, that will benefit most communities directly under the flight path. But it has four downsides: it will increase noise for people very close to the airport. It will increase air pollution levels in the vicinity of the airport. It will have a significant impact on the wear and tear of engines. It will spread the noise so that communities living either side of the flight path up to about 4,000ft will get more noise
In summary, the way planes are flown in and out of airports can make a big difference to noise levels. If some airports can adopt good practices, why can’t they all?
John Stewart, Chair UECNA
Poll
Results so far (27/6):
1 Noise nuisances : 21% | 2 Health effect : 17% | 3 Reduce the number of flights : 12% | 4 Ban on night flights : 11% | 5 Emissions : 10% | 6 Taxes on kerosene and tickets : 7% | 7 International cooperation : 5% | 8 Influence the EU : 4% | 9/10 Getting stronger as an organization / Ban on short-haul flights : 3%
The Importance of Working at a European Level
Air transport and airport-related activities are responsible for noise pollution and emission of toxic pollutants. The noise – especially at night – and the pollutants have both proven to have serious adverse effects on human health. In particular causing high blood pressure leading to cardiovascular diseases and death.
Our health is precious and needs respect and protection.
All stakeholders, ie. operators of airports, air carriers and aircraft builders, but also aviation administrations and politicians, must take into consideration the populations who suffer from the impact of air traffic. Today, the aviation lobby is so powerful that is it very difficult for the population living under flight paths to be heard.
We want to provide a voice for residents living in the vicinity of airports across Europe
Because airports are in competition with one another, any restrictions applicable to one airport will be considered a disadvantage when compared to other airports. Therefore, restrictions will only be accepted if they are applied to all airports. We want to work with the European commission and the European Parliamentarians to ensure that residents living under flight paths have a voice.
The future of all of our airports must be decided at European level.
Manifesto
The ever increasing air traffic causes serious noise and air pollutions which have adverse health impacts on the populations overflown by aircraft at low altitude The number of people affected by these pollutions is also increasing despite the European legislation and improvement in technologies.
Communities near airports are also deeply concerned about the rise in CO2 and non-CO2 emissions from aviation, which are a threat to the climate.
If the growth of aviation is not severely constrained, air traffic will largely negate the effects of national efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Residents’ organizations all over Europe believe that the growth of aviation must be limited.
UECNA summons the EU:
- Noise: to ensure a substantial reduction in noise nuisances caused by aviation, starting with a reduction of night flights with a view to a total ban on night flights to allow an 8-hour night;
- Air pollution: to reduce emissions from aviation (including UFP) to protect the health of people living under flights paths and near airports, and to prevent further environmental degradation;
- Climate: to force airlines, like all companies, to reduce their CO2 emissions in the context of the Paris Agreement;
- Sustainable travel: to levy taxes on air tickets and jet fuel and to enhance comfortable train connections at competitive prices, so that many short European flights can be cancelled.
Why donate?
UECNA with the U of Unique:
The voice for airport community groups in Europe
UECNA is the only Europe-wide organisation which represents airport communities at the European Parliament, the European Commission and at the International Civil Aviation Organisation. It also supports organisations and citizens with expert advice and by exchanging information, experience and best practices.
Our Mission
To represent, inform and protect citizens affected by the adverse impacts of air traffic at European airports.
Our Aims
- To reduce the annoyance and impact on the health and on the quality of life of citizens affected by aircraft noise and air pollution
- To ensure that noise and air pollution from aircraft are duly taken into account when measures to reduce the environmental impacts of aviation are considered
- To reflect the concerns, anxieties and anger of citizens impacted by aircraft noise and air pollution
- To strengthen the network of community groups to share expertise, experience and best practices.
UECNA is run by representatives from grassroots organisations from across Europe.
If you join, you get the chance to:
- Tell the rest of Europe about your airport and benefit from others’ experience
- Join Europe-wide campaigns
- Influence the European Union and international aviation organisations
- Receive regular information on new developments
- Be part of a growing movement to tackle the local impacts of aviation
- Meet fellow campaigners from across Europe
- Influence UECNA’s strategy
UECNA is represented on:
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Authority) | European Commission’s Noise Experts Group | EASA (European Union Safety Agency) | EAEG (European Aviation Environmental Group) | T & E (Transport & Environment)
The more members we have, the more resources and the more influence we will have. Our voice will be stronger. So join us!
Coffee?
Taking action can help
On our Actions page you’ll find a lot of examples
And there is room enough for new ideas.
Various actors that can stimulate the reduction of nuisances: residents (R), organisations of residents (O), scientists (S), political parties (P), municipalities (M), governments (G), European members of parliament (E), celebrities (C) and UECNA (U).
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