The Balanced Approach is controversial. It ia worldwwide approach of the steps airports or goverments must take if they want to reduce aircraft noise. They must dothings in this order

• noise reduction at the source
• operational procedures to reduce noise
• land-use planning to avoid and minimize noise exposure
• and flight restrictions, which are considered a last resort

The European Commission is currentl consulting on whether there should be changes to the Balanced Approach.

UECNA Comments

The Balanced Approach needs to become more flexible to meet present-day needs. Airports and Governments need to have the right to reduce flight numbers without going through stages 1-3 first. It is not the role of the Balanced Approach to remove the democratic right of Government to set its own aviation policy nor the right of airports to decide what might be in their best interest in running an airport.

You can read our full comments here: UECNA Reponse to EU Consultation on the Balanced Approach