Month: September 2020

​​The aviation industry has seen progressive improvements in aircraft design and operational procedures. The benefits of these improvements can be seen in our annual noise contours.​​

The following maps shows how our summer noise contours (57dB LAeq day and night) have varied over time. An LAeq Contour is a measure of average noise at a stated level (in this case 57dB) over a given time period which is the summer 92 days between 16th June and 15th September. The ‘day’ refers to the 16 hour time period between 07:00 and 23:00. The ‘night’ refers to 23:00-07:00. Over this period, the number of aircraft movements have also changed. In particular, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, daytime operations largely ceased. This accounts for the reduction in contour size in 2020 and 2021.

You can find out more by watching this video:

The following map shows the most recent day and night noise contour, produced independently by CAAs Environmental Research and Consultancy Department (ERCD) , which is modelled using their ANCON software. ​​Using the slider on the map, the various contours can be viewed.

Sound Insulation Grant Scheme

The Manchester Airport Sound Insulation Scheme (SIGS) is designed to help the people who are affected most by noise from aircraft and the airport. The scheme has helped many homeowners close to the airport to improve the sound insulation of their homes. 

The Scheme boundary is based on a ‘noise contour’ that identifies the area most affected by aircraft noise. As aircraft have become quieter the number of people affected and the Boundary has reduced. Today there are over 3,000 domestic properties within the current boundary of the Sound Insulation Grant Scheme.

For more information about our SIGS scheme please see our Sound Insulation Grant Scheme | Manchester Airport.