Joint application: Less aircraft noise for Rüsselsheim and the surrounding area!

Joint application: Less aircraft noise for Rüsselsheim and the surrounding area!

The communities of Rüsselsheim, Bischofsheim and Ginsheim-Gustavsburg have submitted a joint application to the aircraft noise commission to optimize the so-called segmented approach. This emerges from a statement from the city of Rüsselsheim dated November 6, 2025. The next meeting of the commission has been set and is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th.

The application aims to change the approach route to an optimized variant C, which runs centrally between the affected communities. The municipalities agree that this adjustment will lead to a fair distribution of the burden. The mayor of Rüsselsheim, Patrick Burghardt, emphasizes the importance of municipal cooperation. The mayor of Bischofsheim, Lisa Gößwein, emphasizes how important it is to find common solutions for the residents, while Thorsten Siehr, the mayor of Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, cites the advantages of the segmented approach and the associated fair distribution of relief.

The segmented approach in detail

The Segmented Approach is an innovative approach route that has already been tested in the past and aims to fly around densely populated areas. The latest surveys show that in the summer of 2024, around two thirds of the aircraft used this route between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., while more than 90 percent of delayed flights between 11 p.m. and midnight followed this alternative. The managing director of the aircraft noise commission, Anja Wollert, reports positive experiences regarding the applicability in good weather conditions and the technical equipment of the aircraft.

Despite the positive results, those affected still hope that the noise measurements, which will follow further test runs, will confirm the actual improvements. Aircraft noise opponents are also calling for the new route to also be used during daylight hours, as regular operations are made more difficult by the high volume of flights during the day.

A joint initiative

With these developments, the application to adjust the approach route in the region becomes part of a broader dialogue between the affected communities and the Aircraft Noise Commission. The desired changes could significantly relieve pressure on Bischofsheim and Ginsheim-Gustavsburg in particular, while Rüsselsheim would benefit from a significant improvement in the noise situation. A further step towards a fair distribution of burdens among residents is now in sight.

It remains to be seen how the discussions with the affected municipalities and the upcoming noise measurements will go. The decision on the future regular operation of the new approach procedure will be made after these discussions. It is clear that citizens in the affected regions are eagerly awaiting the results.

For further information on these developments, please refer to the reporting by Rüsselsheim.de and SWR.de. These sources offer deeper insights into the matter and the changes that affected residents may face.