Positive effects of noise break model for Offenbach

There is no reason to celebrate, but Mayor and Head of the Aircraft Noise Department Peter Schneider recognizes some positive effects in the figures from the monitoring results published yesterday on the trial operation of the noise break model, which has been in use around Frankfurt Airport for ten months.

"This result was to be expected," says Schneider, referring to the special location of the city of Offenbach, which lies under three approach paths. "Even before the start of the trial operation, we made it clear that the noise break model would relieve some Offenbach residents of an extra hour of noise, but would in turn increase the burden on people in the south of the city."

The noise break model does not mean a real reduction in noise for the city of Offenbach, but only a distribution of the noise, explains Schneider. "Only the implementation of our long-standing demands for an eight-hour ban on night flights, real noise ceilings and modified approach routes ("segmented approach") will bring real relief for Offenbach, so that flights also fly over areas with fewer inhabitants and not just over the city."

However, the city recognizes that noise reduction effects can be measured in the mornings and evenings for some of the population, according to Schneider. "We will take a closer look at and discuss these measurement results at the next meeting of the Aircraft Noise Commission on March 9, 2016. The detailed results of the survey of Offenbach residents are also important to me."

Offenbach is located under all three approach paths of Frankfurt Airport and therefore suffers particularly from aircraft noise in the westerly weather conditions, which are by far the most frequent. 45,000 people live in Offenbach under the approach path of the northwest runway, and just under 14,000 people live under the approach path of the south runway. A total of around 36,000 Offenbach residents live under the two approach paths to the southern and center runways and north of the center runway.

According to Schneider, changes to the approach routes would therefore only ever provide relief for some of Offenbach's population, while at the same time increasing the burden on others. "Demands for the immediate closure of the northwest runway would also do little for Offenbach: the south of Offenbach would then be exposed to considerably more noise again, similar to the situation before the northwest runway was opened," emphasizes Schneider. "Although the noise break model currently in use means that the south receives around 3.5 db(A) more noise in the evening for one hour, more people in the north-west approach corridor are relieved by around 5 db(A) in the same time."

Mayor Schneider assumes that the majority of the population will view the changes positively from this perspective. "However, I am also aware that the effects will hardly be noticed in everyday life and that opinions will differ depending on the district." Ultimately, what counts is the sum of all measures that lead to real relief for citizens and that need to be implemented: "The only thing that will help Offenbach is a ban on night flights from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and a combination of upper noise limits and noise reduction through modified approach routes."

Event information:

The Bürgerinitiative Luftverkehr (BIL) is organizing an information evening on aircraft noise pollution together with the City of Offenbach on 11 May 2016, from 7.30 to 9 p.m., at which the evaluation of the noise break model will be discussed as well as the state government's plans for a noise cap. Minister of State Tarek Al-Wazir and Regine Barth, Head of the Aircraft Noise Protection Unit in his ministry, have announced their attendance.