Implementation of environmentally friendly measures at Tallinn Airport

Abstract

This paper aims at studying the problems of aviation noise and air, soil and water pollution in Tallinn Airport and the implementation of measures to make the airport more environmentally friendly. At present Tallinn Airport has two stationary noise level monitoring terminals and one mobile terminal for metering and modelling the noise level caused by aircraft taking-off and landing. Research shows that Tallinn Airport has not yet exceeded the noise limits stipulated by regulations. The area surrounding Tallinn Airport has been divided into four noise zones. Zone 1, where the noise level does not exceed 55 dB, is suitable for a majority of types of buildings, whereas Zone 4, where the noise level exceeds 70 dB and the highest level measured was 105 dB, is absolutely unacceptable as a building area. In recent years the number of flights flying over the residential areas of Tallinn has been reduced significantly, i.e. the number of flights taking off from runway 26 and landing on runway 08. In suitable weather conditions, noisy aircraft are directed to land on RWY 26 and take off from RWY08. Thanks to the measures mentioned above, air pollution from aircraft exhaust gases has been reduced considerably in Tallinn. After the completion of the military airfield at Ämari in the nearest future, it is going to be possible to transfer the cargo flights, usually made by large noisy jets, from Tallinn Airport to Ämari. Various measures have also been taken to reduce the pollution of soil and water within the area of Tallinn Airport.

First published online: 28 Mar 2013

Keyword : airport, environment, aviation noise, noise monitoring, air pollution, soil pollution, water pollution, environmentally friendly measures