Noise protection

Noise reduction measures provide relief for residents

Munich Airport aims to keep the impact on residents and employees caused by flight noise as low as possible. It applies a range of steps to achieve this, including operational, technical, and financial measures.

New airport approach methods enable landings with greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions

Continuous descent operations is the name for a flight procedure in which the aircraft descends with its engines set to minimal power, avoiding horizontal flight phases as far as possible. This method saves fuel and reduces CO₂ emissions. In some areas, the noise can also be reduced, if required. A continuous descent started early on also brings advantages compared to the descent by stages that was previously used.

Continuous descent approach

Advanced engine architecture halves noise levels

The Airbus A320neo, currently the most efficient and quietest short- and medium-haul aircraft, also serves Munich Airport. The A320neo features the latest generation of engines, which allow a reduction in fuel consumption of 15 percent, and at the same time a reduction in both carbon dioxide emissions and noise levels. The Airbus A350-900 is the most environmentally friendly long-haul aircraft in the world. Compared to its predecessor, the A340, it creates significantly lower noise levels: up to 7 dB(A) less on take-off and up to 3 dB(A) less on landing. In contrast to the A340 series, the A350-900 series noise contour is around 40 to 50 percent smaller and its noise level does not exceed 85 dB(A) outside the airport premises. This results in lower aircraft noise pollution in the airport region. Thanks to its cutting-edge engines and lightweight materials, as well as curved wing tips, the A350-900 series consumes 50 percent less kerosene overall and thus emits 50 percent less CO₂.

Comparison of noise contours for the Airbus A340-600 and A350-900

Landing charges: quiet equals cheap

Munich Airport can influence the type of aircraft used by ensuring its landing charges depend on noise levels. Airlines using quiet aircraft benefit from a charges system based on a broad sliding scale. Noise-based take-off and landing charges in 2020 were as much as eight times higher for a loud aircraft type than a quiet one. Future plans call for further increases in the proportion of noise-dependent charges. Beyond that, airlines are to pay extra for nighttime flights.

Facts and Figures

The impact of aircraft noise

While aircraft noise at large airports typically impacts a large number of people directly, the number is relatively low in the case of Munich, being around seven percent of the number of people impacted to the same extent in Frankfurt. This is not to say that aircraft noise is of no consequence for Munich Airport, rather more so that a particularly favorable location was chosen for the airport.

Impact of aircraft noise

Close monitoring of aircraft noise

From 16 fixed noise measuring points, FMG continuously monitors aircraft noise within a radius of about 20 kilometers around Munich Airport. With air traffic down significantly, the noise levels measured in all locations in 2020 were lower than the previous year. The airport also performs mobile measurements as a voluntary service for municipalities that are not covered by the stationary measurement network. In 2020, with the coronavirus crisis as background, only one mobile flight noise measurement was taken, out of a total of 33 measurement days in Schwindegg.

Locations of fixed noise measuring points of Flughafen München GmbH

Rapid, simple flight noise communications

As of November 1, the public can track flight paths and noise data online in near real time, with a lag of about ten seconds instead of the previous ten minutes. The user interface used to display mobile noise measurements was also revamped in 2020. It is now easier to use thanks to a clearly organized calendar view, and the results of all mobile noise measurements taken by FMG since 2013 are available for lookup.