Keeping the noise down at airports in India

In a first in India, Mumbai’s international airport, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), will now be able to identify aircraft that are the noisiest during take-offs, landing and during parking, round-the-clock. To reduce the impact of noise on nearby residential areas, the CSIA has installed NoiseDesk, a web-based noise-monitoring system, which is replicated from London’s Southend Airport. The move comes after India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued a Civil Aviation Requirement in January to contain noise around airports and conduct noise-mapping on the premises because of the increase in new airlines that has led to high noise levels. Unlike some international airports, India has no safety limits set for noise during take-offs and landings.At the CSIA, two stationary noise-monitoring terminals have now been installed under take-off and landing flight paths; together with a mobile unit on the airfield, this allows the airport to respond to noise pollution issues and reduce impact through noise abatement procedures.