Public Engagement in the GEES Disciplines

30 April 2012

Engaging Community and Industry Stakeholders to Promote the Sustainable Development of Airports

Callum Thomas

Aviation, City and Regional Development

• Regional competitiveness

• Knowledge economies

• Tourism economies

• Access to Global economy

• Support multicultural society

• In current socio-economic model: Many regional economies highly reliant on air transport.

The Challenge of Aircraft Noise• Airport benefits - significant and spread across regions.

• Noise impact - significant but borne locally.

• Noise can generate significant opposition leading to constraints upon airport capacity.

• Community disturbance can limit the ability of airports to contribute to regional development.

• It is in the self interest of the industry to deal with noise.

Largest Airports Close to the Largest Cities

•Noise affects the daily lives of tens of thousands

How to measure the problem?

Noise impacts not measured in dBA

It depends what you are doing.

Perceived disturbance affected by non acoustic

factors.

Even perception of aircraft varies

0102030405060708090

100

BA146 B727 B747

Complaint

Individual Variability

• 70% complaints from 4 people.

• Different responses from 2 halves of a semi.

Response to Disturbance

• Complaint• Legal action (Heathrow)• Direct action (US, Sydney)• Tolerance

- Sharing benefit• Silence

- no point to complain- fear of complaining

– Propensity to take action.

Opposition is Likely to Grow

• Attitudes are hardening due to climate change.

• Traffic growth will expose more people to noise.

• Increasing affluence leading to less tolerance.

• Democratisation - more vocal / active opposition.

• Increasing expectation of the right to be heard.

How does the airport find the ‘sustainable’ balance?

•Reduce Noise Exposure

• Increase Community Tolerance

•Stakeholder Engagement is the Key to Both

Who are the Key Aviation Stakeholders?

Regulators Governments

Planning bodies

Civil aviation authorities

Internal Stakeholders Air Navigation Service Providers

Airports

Airlines

Ground Handling Agents

External Stakeholders Local communities

Statutory bodies

Environment groups

‘Interested parties’

Air transport users

Stakeholder Engagement is Key

• Engagement with external stakeholders to identify the nature and extent of impacts requiring attention.

• Engagement with internal stakeholders to develop the most appropriate strategic and operational responses.

• Finding the long term sustainable balance between the priorities of different stakeholders is key.

Industry partners deliver solutions

• Airport, airlines, ATC, ground handlers

• Conflicting priorities– operating costs– operational efficiencies– on time operations– Passenger convenience

• Need to find optimal solution

Reducing Noise Exposure

Promote Community Tolerance

• Acknowledge concerns.

• Engage in problem solving

• Explain what’s feasible

• Examine all options

• Cost benefit analysis

• Feedback on community influence

Offer Community Guarantees

• Provide guarantees. • Agree targets, approach,

monitoring.• Deliver on commitments. • Transparent monitoring

and reporting

• 3rd party auditing

• Recourse to court if fail

Stakeholder Engagement Methods

• Documentation

• E-Newsletters

• Local media articles

• Telephone hotlines

• Exhibitions

• The Internet

• Meetings

• Complaints

• Surveys / focus groups

• Consultation committees

• Workshops / meetings

• Field visits

Provision of relevant and timely information is key

Technical Indicators

• Single events– Peak noise (PNdB)

• Contours– Modelling

Community Indicators

• Number flights

• Number engine tests

• Adherence to flight paths

• Number night flights.

Let Community Select Indicators

• How many aircraft will I get?

• How noisy will they be?

• How high will they be?

• When will I get them?

• Will I still be able to use my garden?

Public Meetings

Complaints1.1. Disturbance / Nuisance

– Noise disturbs sleep, leisure, watching TV, reading etc

– Emissions - odour and deposits (on washing and pools)

– Visual impact - over-flying aircraft or contrails– Loss of tranquillity in remote areas– Road traffic congestion / car parking

2. Fear– Future growth– Air accidents– Health effects arising from air pollution– Loss of value / inability to sell house – Impacts on education

3. Concern– Climate change (synergy - local residents and NGOs)

Focus Groups

• Small number views

• In depth discussion

• Reveals underlying issues

Social Surveys

• Widespread sample of attitudes

•Puts noise alongside other issues

•Feeling Safe•Local Crime•Street Cleanliness•Least Important•Noise from Railways•Access to Jobs

•Noise from Aircraft (45%)

Rated Extremely or Very Important

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Feelings of personal security

Level of local crime

Street cleanliness

Neighbourhood air quality

Condition of roads andpavements

Availability of local shoppingfacilities

The amount of road traffic inyour area

Access to green spaces/countryside

Noise from road traffic

Level of Rates

Availability of local GP

Access to public transport

Quality of local schools

Availability of local recreationfacilities

Noise from aircraft

Access to jobs

Noise from railways

Consultative Committees

• Composition

• Issues within remit

• Powers

• Evidence of change

Levels of Stakeholder Communication

Term Definition

Inform Give facts or information to.

Consult Seek information or advice from (someone, especially an expert or professional).

Seek permission or approval from.

Giving advice to others in the same field.

Dialogue Communication between two or more

Discussion directed towards exploration of a subject or resolution of a problem.

Engage Attract or involve (someone’s interest or attention).

Participate or become involved in.

Participate Take part or share in.

How does the Airport Know if it has the Balance Right?

• External intervention.

• Public protest.

• Legal challenge.

• Planning delays.

• Planning failure.

• Closure.

What happens when it goes wrong ?

Parting Thought

•So How Would You Ensure you have achieved the ‘sustainable or appropriate balance’ between aircraft noise disturbance and the socio-economic benefits that arise from airport growth?