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Published on September 5, 2007

Airports of Thailand (AOT) is to instruct all flights to take off at a greater angle to reduce noise impact at Suvarnabhumi Airport, starting on November 13. Thai Airways International flights are already doing so.

Speaking at a Bangkok seminar, Environmental Quality Promotion Department director-general Monthip Sriratana Tabukanon said the change, which involves a flight manoeuvre known as NADP1, would result in engine noise being reduced by 1.5 to 3.0 decibels A.

The other solution is a decreased rate of runway use: flights will take off using the west runway and the east runway at a ratio of 80:20. The rate will vary depending on the season and wind direction.

Monthip said the noise level was now even louder than the standard - at more than 80 decibels A - compared to before the airport was opened on September 28 last year, when the noise level was only between 55 and 59 decibels A during test flights.

Among areas affected by noise, she recommended that those living in a grid designated as NEF (Noise Exposure Forecast) 40, which covers a 1.93-square kilometre area nearest to the airport, should be the first to be evacuated.

A pilot, who asked to not be identified, said the NADP1-related solution would work only with the help of a

noise-measuring device to make sure that all flights

followed the new rule. "Otherwise we cannot know that all pilots are cooperating," he said.

"The whole solution is

about taking the aircraft to the altitude that minimises the noise level as quickly as possible, although it means higher fuel costs, because this manoeuvre uses a lot of fuel," he added.

Noise-affected residents around Suvarnabhumi might postpone a protest if an AOT resolution tomorrow satisfies them, according to Wanchart Manatham-masombat, a leader of the residents.

After talks with the Transport Ministry and the AOT yesterday, Wanchart said he would ask residents to call off their plan to disrupt flights by releasing balloons on Friday night.

"If the resolution does not satisfy the affected residents, I can't be certain whether they will release the balloons," he said.

Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chaisawat Kittipornpaiboon announced four measures after the discussions with 50 representatives of the residents.

"For residents living outside the noise-contour map, the AOT and the Pollution Control Department will measure the sound and find a resolution for them; buying homes back from people living with Noise Exposure Forecasts scores of 35-40 will be submitted to AOT executives to consider again; lawyers of the AOT and the residents will have to draft contracts together to bring about fairness for both parties; and a shorter time will be spent to tackle the noise problem," Chaisawat said.

Residents also want the AOT to follow last year's Cabinet resolution on November 21 that homes would be bought back from residents with an NEF score of 35-40.

However, Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said theoretically the ministry had to follow the latest Cabinet resolution on May 29 this year, stating that homes would be bought back from residents with an NEF score of over 40.

"I will consider help for other noise-affected residents whose homes won't be bought due to this year's Cabinet resolution," Theera said.

"I also want to ask those residents to not release balloons to disrupt flights because it is illegal and could cause a severe accident and a loss of Thailand's reputation."

Chaisawat said he would submit the issue of the two conflicting resolutions to the Cabinet for consideration.

Suvarnabhumi Airport director Serirat Prasutanont said the AOT would follow the Cabinet and its board.

 Janjira Pongrai,

 Wannapa Phetdee

 The Nation