At its most recent meeting, the "Commission for the Defense against Aircraft Noise" at Frankfurt Airport unanimously elected City Councillor Paul-Gerhard Weiß to the board. Weiß has again represented the city of Offenbach on this commission since last year.
The Aircraft Noise Commission is a body anchored in the Air Traffic Act that advises German Air Traffic Control, the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Traffic Control and the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Regional Development and must be consulted by them in advance on all matters relevant to aircraft noise. However, it can also take the initiative with its own proposals. Important topics of consultation are the determination of flight routes, active and passive noise protection measures, noise protection areas, airport charges, noise action planning and aircraft noise monitoring.
The Aircraft Noise Commission currently comprises 46 representatives of the districts, independent cities and municipalities affected by aircraft noise, as well as the aviation industry and Fraport. The nine-member Executive Board is responsible for coordinating the work, preparing meetings and resolutions and representing the Aircraft Noise Commission externally.
Paul-Gerhard Weiß believes it is particularly important to make greater progress with active noise protection and to focus in particular on those most affected. "The aim must be to ensure that health-relevant noise levels are no longer exceeded. Of course, this involves flight routes that are as gentle as possible, higher overflight altitudes and modern equipment. However, fundamental and longer-term issues of cooperation between airports, operating regulations, rail configuration and rail usage must also be discussed so that the interests of the airport and the noise protection concerns of the densely populated region can be better reconciled. And the local authorities affected need more financial support for structural noise protection at educational facilities."