Some thoughts on noise and its evolution around Geneva Airport

Today the aviation industry is strongly exposed to criticism based on its impact on climate change. While this is a very important challenge, the industry and especially airports also have a second important challenge: noise impact, which needs to be managed more strategically and proactively. This paper discusses the key factors that influence noise impact, looking at the influence of the evolution of passenger numbers and movements, the influence of the time slots used for these movements and the movements of the lowest noise class aircraft. It will also examine why the permissible noise curve currently under discussion is much larger than that of the 2009 noise register, the first definition by the Swiss aviation regulator of the foreseen noise impact of Geneva Airport. The paper will investigate to what extent Geneva Airport can influence the noise curves through opening hours and slot availability, as well as ways in which the airport might achieve the 20 per cent noise reduction announced in the aeronautical infrastructure sector plan of 2018. Finally, it will suggest a methodology to produce a forecast of noise impact based on key variables such as movements during specific hours of the day and the percentage of movements of aircraft of the lowest noise class.