Current Noise Pollution Protection Programme
The new noise pollution protection programme for the expansion plans of the southern runway and apron
The conditions set by the approval order (Planfeststellungsbeschluss vom 04.11.2004) and the changes made on 19 December 2005 and 17 July 2009 are the basis of the noise pollution protection programme.
The decision regarding the construction project was accompanied by comprehensive measures for noise pollution protection concerning, especially, the protection of the local population against aircraft noise created by night flights.
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Additionally, the new direction of the southern runway will lead directly to a reduction in aircraft noise pollution for the cities of Leipzig and Halle.
The Regional Council of Leipzig (Landesdirektion Leipzig - formerly Regierungspräsidium Leipzig) bases its decisions concerning nocturnal noise protection on the results of a study performed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in 2004.
The study examined the dose-effect relationship of nocturnal aircraft noise and the effects on the sleep of those affected.
Criteria for Noise Protection
“Dose-effect relationship” means the occurrence of a range from low to high individual levels in aircraft noise.
The DLR’s study showed that low levels can also disturb sleep. Even without aircraft noise, waking reactions occur an average of 24 times per night under laboratory conditions; spontaneous changes in the depth of sleep occur even more than 52 times. A distinction must be made between these normal processes which occur in one’s nightly sleep - without aircraft noise - and a waking which can be recalled. In terms of sleep disruption one must clearly differentiate between waking reactions which are not remembered and an awakening which can be recalled.
Protection of Nighttime Peace
After careful consideration, the Regional Council of Leipzig specified in its approval order that, on average, less than one additional waking reaction may occur because of nocturnal aircraft noise. On average means:P>
- one third of the population is not woken up additionally,
- one third is woken up once,
- one fifth twice and
- less than 10% three times or more, whereby it is not to be expected that six or more additional awakenings occur.
Considering the fact that a waking reaction is not to be treated the same as a wakening which can be recalled, a high level of protection is thereby guaranteed. As a result, a night protection area with a length of about 45 km and a width of up to 6 km was created in the area around Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Annual Review of the Night Protection Criteria
In accordance with the conditions for approval of the rebuilding of the southern runway and apron from 4 November 2004, the first calculations for the review of the night protection area were conducted in spring 2009. These are to be conducted annually until 2016 and then every three years thereafter. The aim of this continual review is to determine if differences occur between the actual traffic volumes and those forecast in 2004. If this should be the case, the passive noise protection would require adjustment.
Leipzig/Halle Airport went beyond the demands required when conducting the first review calculations. As a result, the forecast horizon, based upon the real data currently available, was extended. A review of the data by the Leipzig Regional Council resulted in an extension of the night protection area by ca. 44 km2 to ca. 256 km2 . As a result of this extension, the number of buildings to be checked by independent engineering offices for possible passive noise protection measures - and the carrying out of those measures necessary - has been increased.