Aircraft noise alarm: Greens call for special meeting on the new concept in Hesse

Aircraft noise alarm: Greens call for special meeting on the new concept in Hesse

In the heart of the Rhine-Main area, a new flight route concept at Frankfurt Airport is causing heated discussions in Hessian state politics. [FAZ] reports that the Green Group has already requested a special meeting of the Economic Committee and submitted an urgent report request. This meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 23rd at 10:30 a.m. in the Wiesbaden state parliament, is intended to clarify how the planned changes will affect the quality of life of residents.

The Greens' concerns are not unfounded. The planned reorganization of air traffic envisages that cities and regions that already suffer from high levels of aircraft noise could be flown over even more often. Cities such as Hochheim and Flörsheim are particularly affected, as experts believe the plans could lead to a sharp increase in the number of flight movements. According to a forecast by Intraplan, the number of annual flight movements could increase to around 560,000 by 2033.

Growing concerns and political reactions

With more departures in the evening, the new concept could potentially violate a ruling by the Federal Administrative Court. Katy Walther, the Green Party's transport policy spokeswoman, expresses serious concerns about the quality of life for residents. The Hessian Economics Minister Kaweh Mansoori (SPD) also has the responsibility to make a statement at the upcoming meeting.

The airport operators Fraport AG and Deutsche Flugsicherung have teamed up to develop the new concept taking current air traffic conditions into account. In particular, the planned distribution of aircraft movements over the Taunus is aimed at relieving Mainz and Wiesbaden of aircraft noise. Nevertheless, it is clear that changes to existing flight routes are necessary to keep pace with the growth in air traffic. [Rhein-Zeitung] points out that over 441,000 take-offs and landings were recorded in 2022 and the airport is considered an essential location factor for industry and the economy.

Aircraft noise and its effects

Aircraft noise remains a perennial problem, not only in Frankfurt but far beyond. It is estimated that up to a million people in the airport's catchment area are affected by noise and pollutant emissions, including around 50,000 people who suffer greatly from the noise. According to the current report from the Aircraft Noise Protection Unit, the noise measuring stations in the city of Frankfurt show increasing continuous sound levels, especially during the day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The measurements show that many stations exceed the WHO guideline value of 40 dB at night. Even though the number of nightly flight movements from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. is strictly regulated, it is clear that the noise from overflights is affecting many residents and concerns about the future flight route concept are becoming ever louder. [Frankfurt.de] provides regularly updated information about noise development and the current situation of air traffic.

Overall, it is clear that a precise balance must be found between the interests of aviation and the protection of local residents. The upcoming meeting in the state parliament could be a decisive step in bringing the opinions and concerns of the affected municipalities into the discussion.