A Deep Dive into Health and Aviation
I am Andreas Lambrianou and I chair the Noise and Airspace Community Forum (NACF), we meet bi-monthly to collaborate with the aviation industry, government bodies, local authorities, and community representatives. Together, we address pressing concerns related to noise, airspace, and runway operations at Heathrow Airport.
In our September meeting, we took an in-depth look at the relationship between health and aviation, following a request from forum members. This session included insights from leading experts and organisations.
Below is a summary of our discussions, findings, and next steps.
Key Study: The Frontier Economics Scoping Study
Frontier Economics was commissioned to assess whether the Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) on the health effects of aircraft noise remains relevant today. Their research highlighted two critical gaps in the current guidance:
Sleep Disturbances – The impact of noise on sleep and associated health outcomes.
Cognitive Impairment in Children – Potential developmental impacts due to prolonged exposure to aircraft noise.
Frontier Economics emphasised that their findings should feed into a broader review of the TAG guidance, recommending further research to strengthen evidence and inform policy.
Insights from UKHSA
We invited Ben Fenech of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to present on the relationship between aviation noise exposure and health outcomes. His findings underscored the complexity of the issue:
Aviation noise can affect long-term physical and mental health through multiple pathways.
Reducing both noise exposure and associated annoyance is essential.
Certain groups, such as individuals with cardiovascular or psychological conditions, are at higher risk of adverse effects.
While these conclusions are important, Ben highlighted the need for continued monitoring and evaluation, as current evidence does not yet provide a complete picture.
Community Perspective
Paul Beckford from the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) summarized community concerns and priorities:
“There are clear health impacts at lower noise levels than current UK Government policy acknowledges. However, more research is needed to quantify these effects and develop effective mitigation measures.”
Paul suggested adopting a precautionary approach, focusing on prevention rather than mitigation, and proposed that statutory duties of care for health impacts be strengthened across relevant organisations, including the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and UKHSA.
Five Key Areas for Action
Monetising Health Impacts
Studies estimate the annual cost of noise-related annoyance and sleep disturbance at £300m (DEFRA, 2014) to £800m (WHO).
Research should update these figures to include additional health conditions, such as stroke and dementia, and enhance the values used in Transport Appraisal Guidance (TAG).
Concentrated Flight Paths
The health impacts of concentrated flight paths remain poorly understood.
Future Airspace Change Proposals (ACPs) must account for the total number of affected individuals, including those below the 51-decibel threshold.
Protecting Sensitive Time Periods
Night-time operations and early-morning arrivals significantly disturb sleep, as highlighted by a Leicester University study (Hansell et al., 2024).
Strategies such as limiting late-night flights and adjusting operational practices (e.g., steeper climbs and descents) could mitigate these effects.
Mental Health Impacts
Aircraft noise has a disproportionate impact on individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), exacerbating conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Practical solutions, such as effective noise insulation, are urgently needed to protect vulnerable populations.
Re-establishing a Noise Advisory Body
An independent advisory body on noise would help build public trust and provide evidence-based recommendations to the government.
Next Steps
The NACF recognises that addressing all these issues is a long-term endeavour. We must prioritise areas where research and action will have the greatest impact.
We welcome your input on the topics discussed here. What should our focus be moving forward? Please share your thoughts by emailing us at nacf@heathrow.com
Our next meeting is scheduled for 5th February, and we encourage you to attend as an observer. Please email us to confirm your participation.
Together, we can work toward solutions that prioritize the health and well-being of our communities.
Andreas Lambrianou
Chair, Noise and Airspace Community Forum