No change in flight routes and flight depth

Offenbach residents are once again becoming increasingly aware of aircraft noise. Air traffic is particularly heavy during the summer vacation period and after the Corona break, this is particularly noticeable and is causing people problems. In certain weather conditions, it is also louder than usual.

However, aircraft do not fly lower than before, confirms City Councillor Paul-Gerhard Weiß, who is in charge of the Fluglärm AG for Offenbach together with the Bürgerinitiative Luftverkehr (opens in a new tab) Offenbach.

"The landing approach is a very rigid affair. The aircraft descend continuously at a certain predetermined angle of 3.0 degrees so that they hit the runway exactly right. The instrument landing system tells the pilots to do this, it's not their own decision. Even in the heaviest fog, the aircraft then touches down in exactly the right place on the runway," explains Weiß.

The flight altitudes have not been changed recently. The sequenced approach is currently still being tested.

The flight altitude cannot be determined correctly with the human eye because many factors can influence the impression. However, Fraport and the Environmental House offer the option of checking the exact flight altitude online.

The city has been fighting for noise reduction measures for a long time. The most important in the long term is the "Segmented Approach" trial operation implemented by the city of Offenbach. This means that aircraft fly past Offenbach to the south and only take a straight flight to the runway further west. Of course, this only affects a small number of aircraft at present, but knowledge is being gained so that the procedure can be used regularly in the off-peak hours at a later date and Offenbach can be relieved as a result. The city has provided detailed information on this in the press and has also documented everything here:

Offenbach has actually been advocating an increase in the approach angle for a long time. On the northwest runway, this is often done at 3.2 degrees instead of 3.0 degrees. This provides around 60 meters of additional altitude. On the southern runway (the approach goes over Tempelsee), however, this can only be used very rarely.

Our requirement is 3.5 degrees everywhere, which would add over 100 meters. However, technical problems and international legal regulations are currently still being cited as obstacles. "But we'll keep at it," emphasizes Councillor Weiß.