Aircraft become quieter every year. Today's planes are only half as loud as those produced ten years ago. The Advisory Council for Aeronautical Research (ACARE) aims to trim another 50 percent off noise emissions for all aircraft by 2020. In many cases, though, this goal runs counter to efforts to lower fuel consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the A380 is equipped with cutting-edge noise-control technologies that increase its weight. As a consequence, the A380 consumes more jet fuel than it would without the noise-reduction features.

SWISS meets the strictest limits

The ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) defines emission limits for aircraft noise. They state how much noise, at most, an aircraft is allowed to produce. The limits were tightened on 1 January 2006 with the introduction of the Chapter 4 Standard. Aircraft certified to this standard are 10 dB quieter than the planes that conform to the previous standard. To the human ear, a 10 dB reduction sounds like a 50% drop in noise levels.

The entire SWISS fleet already meets ICAO's strict Chapter 4 Standard; some planes are even 11 % to over 20 % quieter than the limit.

Noise pollution is falling

Aircraft movements at Zurich Airport have increased nearly 50 percent in the past 20 years, but the area heavily affected by noise has shrunk by two-thirds, thanks to today's quieter aircraft. Actual noise levels near the airport are measured continuously by EMPA on behalf of Zurich Airport.
Some regions have, however, experienced a rise in air traffic noise. Since Germany restricted approach flights from the north in 2003, thousands of residents in areas to the south and east of the airport have seen noise levels go up. The northern area benefiting from the restriction, by contrast, is relatively sparsely populated. This is because most aircraft have approached from the north since the airport began operations more than 50 years ago.