The Local Community Contact Centre (BAS) Annual Report has revealed that the number of noise nuisance complaints increased slightly in 2021, despite fewer flights to and from Schiphol. There were approximately 5% more complaints than in 2020.
Published on: 4 May 2022
Preferred runways under maintenance for 16 weeks
According to data collected by BAS, 2021 saw more reports from, among others, the areas surrounding the Zwanenburgbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways. The reason behind this is that more air traffic made use of these runways due to the preferred runways – the Polderbaan and Kaagbaan – being under maintenance and therefore unavailable for 16 weeks. The wind also came from a northerly to easterly direction more often in 2021.
Dreamliner versus Boeing 747-400
Even though there was a 25% reduction in Boeing 747-400 flights, the number of complaints about this type of aircraft doubled. Especially when this aircraft took off in the late evening or at night from the Zwanenburgbaan, Kaagbaan or Buitenveldertbaan runways. There were relatively few reports about newer and quieter aircraft, like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This shows that fleet renewal can have a positive effect on the number of complaints.