How we try to cut aircraft noise at Kai Tak

NELSON Pang (South China Morning Post, April 27) called on the Government to do something to tackle the noise problem around the airport. I'm sure he'd like to know how much the Government has, in fact, done, recognising that air transport is not something Hong Kong can do without.

One of the main reasons to want to build a replacement airport for Hong Kong is to remove the noise nuisance Kai Tak causes to those living in its vicinity.

In that regard it would be as well to remember that, as in other places in the world, the conurbation has moved in on the airport over the years. Had the project not been shelved in 1983 we would have had a replacement airport up and running last year.

In the meantime, the following measures have been taken to keep on-airport and off-airport aircraft operation and maintenance noise to the minimum: In terms of restrictions on aircraft noise under existing legislation, the Government has exercised power to require subsonic jet aircraft to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation's Chapter 2 or Chapter 3 noise standards; Limitation on Operation of Engines and Auxiliary Power Units (APU) restricts operation of engines above ground idle power during 9pm to 7am (restrictions during midnight to 7am being more stringent); restricts operation of APU during 11pm to 6am (restrictions on APU operation being more stringent in airport areas near Richland Gardens). Limitation on landing or taking off of aircraft restricts landing and take-off between 11.30pm to 6.30am; prohibits take-off on Runway 31 from midnight to 6.30am and restricts such take-offs from 9pm to midnight and 6.30am to 7am; restricts landing on runway 13 from midnight to 6.30am.

Further measures being taken to mitigate aircraft noise are proposed amendments to existing legislation to tighten restrictions on aircraft noise: An Amendment Bill introduced into the Legislative Council on April 27 would give the Government powers progressively to restrict Chapter 2 subsonic jet aircraft.

Amendments to the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) (Limitation on Operation of Engines and Auxiliary Power Units) Regulations to further extend the restriction on operation of engines above ground idle power; to further extend the restriction on operation of APUs and to make the use of Fixed Ground Power (if available) compulsory; add new restrictions on operation of engines at ground idle power.