Aircraft and helicopter noise
Noise is unwanted sound and is considered pollution under the Pollution Control Act. Noise from airports is mainly caused by aircraft and helicopters that land, take off, or taxi.
Avinor conducts regular noise surveys at all Avinor airports and records route usage at the major airports. Avinor is actively working to limit the noise burden from aircraft and helicopter traffic for residents in the areas surrounding the airports.
Exposure to aircraft noise depends on aircraft types, traffic volume, runway use, route selection, and the distribution of traffic throughout the day. In addition to noise surveys, Avinor's main tools are traffic management and adjustments to arrival and departure procedures. Satellite-based procedures are an important measure in this context and will be used going forward. The most important tool for preventing increased exposure to aircraft noise in residential areas is aircraft noise zone maps, which describe the future noise situation. Municipalities are required to use these maps in their land-use planning, while Avinor must also consider municipal land-use plans in its work.
The introduction of the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter type for offshore transport has led to a significant increase in aircraft noise exposure at certain airports. Measures to improve this are a high priority, including through the establishment of a national helicopter noise committee where relevant stakeholders are brought together. The committee's primary task is to share information and provide advice on the noise situation around the affected airports, with the goal of finding noise-reducing measures.
In 2012, the Storting decided that the new F-35 fighter jets should be stationed at Ørland. Four of the aircraft will be stationed at Evenes in a base for Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) and high air readiness (HLB). The Storting's decision means a resumption of Evenes as a permanent military air station.
It has been shown that when the F-35 takes off, it subjects the areas around the terminal building to noise levels above LpASmax of 115 dBA, which in the state zoning plan is considered potentially hearing-damaging. The high noise levels occur in connection with F-35 takeoffs with afterburner. Avinor is working on measures to shield passengers, employees, and other visitors to the airports from the hearing-damaging noise.