The policy for dealing with aircraft noise implemented in the Ben Gurion Airport area is designed to express a balance of interest between aviation (national) needs and public (local) needs.  Among the aviation needs, we can stress the need to maintain flight safety standards and provide a proper level of aviation services.  Among the public and local needs, we can stress the commitment to minimizing noise deriving from aviation activity.

When formulating a policy of noise minimization, the following aspects should be addressed:

§          Controlling  takeoffs at night.

§          Using a preferred model of operation (optimizing use of flight paths and routes).

§          Operational restrictions on types of aircraft according to their noise output.

§          Controlling noise of aircraft on the ground.

§          Acoustic protection.

§          Monitoring aircraft noise and flight tracks.

After the noisiest civilian aircraft models, graded 2, were phased out in April 2002 (see box), the restriction of nighttime takeoffs, according to a government resolution, remained the dominant factor affecting aircraft noise in the Ben Gurion area.

This restriction bans aircraft takeoffs between the hours of 02:00 and 05:30.  This period of prohibition was supposed to be extended, by government decision, to the hours of 01:00 to 05:30.  During 2002, the Minister of Transport wished to extend the hours to 01:30-06:00.  This attempt met with strong opposition on the part of foreign airline companies.  The High Court of Justice accepted the companies’ appeal and left the situation unchanged.

Even the existing ban between 02:00 and 05:30 is not complete, and in fact there are some exceptional takeoffs, that are approved in advance by the Minister of Transport.

Since November 1998, following implementation of the government decision on limiting nighttime takeoffs from BGN, there has been a noticeable new peaking of activity at the airport:  there is a sharp increase in the number of takeoffs just before the curfew (between 23:00 and 02:00), and immediately afterwards, at 05:30.

This fact has negative environmental implications during very sensitive times from the residents' point of view.  Following the decision of the Ministers of Transport and the Environment, a professional team led by the head of Civil Aviation examined possible alternatives to this situation.  The principles of these alternatives, which should improve noise levels in the area, include:

§          Extending the period of takeoff restrictions to 23:00-06:00.

§          Setting limits of noise in the monitoring system for nighttime to a level equivalent to the noise of a truck.

§          Reducing noise limits during daytime hours.

§          Putting restrictions on aircraft during the night according to their noise output.

§          Canceling the comprehensive ban on takeoffs.

§          Using an enforcement system.

The proposal has not yet been discussed in public forums.

1.4.2002

In accordance with the international treaty that is also enshrined in the Israeli law of flying, since 1.4.2002 there has been a ban on operating noisy aircraft (stage 2) for civilian aviation.  A number of Eastern European countries contacted the Minister of Transport close to that date, asking for a delay in implementation of the regulation, but this was refused.

Now that aircraft stage 2 are no longer in service, only quieter aircraft, of stage 3, are permitted to fly, something that will contribute to the anticipated improvement in the climate of aircraft noise in the Ben Gurion Airport area.

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