Edinburgh Airport received 500 noise complaints from two people in summer 2019

Edinburgh Airport received almost 500 noise complaints from just two people during three months in 2019.

There were a total of 736 noise complaints in the third quarter of 2019, 65% of which came from two people.

While most complaints were general, there were 52 complaints about night flights, two about helicopters, and three about low-flying aircraft.

As measured by Scottish Government guidelines, a twin-engine jet taking off will produce 81 decibels at a distance of 152m.

Noise tracking from the airport shows decibel levels at around 72 directly over the airport, with around 63 decibels over Newbridge and 60 decibels over Cramond.

A passenger car driving at 60 km/h will produces 70 decibels at 7m, while an ordinary conversation is about 50 decibels.

The airport is required to produce a Noise Action Plan every five years.

Edinburgh Airport is the UK’s sixth busiest airport, with 14.3 million passengers a year and 134,000 annual take-offs and landings.

Peak departure time is at the beginning of the day while peak departure time is at the end, in part because the airport is a popular overnight base.

The airport is set to grow in the coming years, with annual passenger numbers forecast to reach 20 million in 2030, with 166,000 take-offs and landings.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: “We regularly engage with local communities to help them understand noise and enhance the positive relationship we have with them.

“Our Noise Lab offers increased transparency around our operations and is available to anyone, and we also created the Edinburgh Airport Noise

dvisory Board (EANAB) to represent the concerns of local communities who are affected by aircraft noise.

“We want to discuss concerns with individuals, understand their issues and then explain and work to mitigate where possible.

“We have offered to meet these individuals and place mobile noise monitors on their property to gain a greater understanding of the noise they are experiencing but they have yet to engage with us – those offers remain open.”

Edinburgh Airport Watch, a community group which campaigns against noise from Edinburgh Airport, did not respond to a request for comment.

Complaints about noise at Edinburgh Airport can be made to [email protected].