Night flying restrictions

Night flying restrictions or night-time curfews,^[1] including night flight bans, are any regulations or legislation imposed by a governing body to limit the ground-perceived exposure to aircraft noise pollution during the night hours, when the majority of residents are trying to sleep. Such regulations may include restrictions to available flight paths, or prohibitions against takeoffs, or prohibitions against takeoffs and landings, or prohibitions against ground operations (engine runups or taxiing).

Several night flying restrictions including full night flight bans have been introduced in Europe in order to ensure that residents living near airports can sleep at night.

• Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, Hungary: A night flight ban between midnight and 05:00 was introduced in August 2019 by agreement between the city of Budapest and the Ministry of Transport. Nearby residents received a government subsidy to install soundproof windows.^[2]
• Cologne Bonn Airport, Germany: In April 2012, the Government of North Rhine-Westphalia introduced a night flight ban for passenger aircraft from midnight until 05:00.^[3]
• Frankfurt Airport, Germany: In October 2011, the Supreme Court of Hesse imposed a ban on night flights between 23:00 and 05:00. This decision was upheld by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig in April 2012.^[3] During the morning and evening periods (22:00–23:00 and 05:00–06:00) a limited number of flights are allowed, providing they comply with ICAO Chapter 4 noise regulations. Further restrictions apply to noisier aircraft.^[4]
• London airports: The night restrictions for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted define a night period, 23:00–07:00, and a night quota period, 23:30–06:00. During the night period, the noisiest types of aircraft (classified as QC/4, QC/8 or QC/16 under the Quota Count system) may not be scheduled to land or to take off (other than in the most exceptional circumstances, such as an emergency landing). In addition, during the night quota period movements by most other types of aircraft (including the new QC/0.25 category) will be restricted by a movements limit and a noise quota, which are set for each season.^[5]
• Zurich Airport, Switzerland: A strict night-time curfew has been in force since 29 July 2010 between 23:30 and 06:00; the time between 23:00 and 23:30 may only be used to reduce backlogs of delayed flights.^[1]

Curfews are not as common at international airports in Oceania as they are in Europe, though some airports do still have curfews if they surround densely populated suburbs.

Curfews at Australian international airports
Airport	State/territory	Curfew?	Notes
Adelaide	South Australia	Yes (23:00 to 06:00)	[6]
Brisbane	Queensland	No	Curfew proposed,[7] objected to by airport.[8][9]
Cairns	Queensland	No	[10]
Canberra	Template:Country data Australian Capital Territory	No	[11]
Darwin International Airport	Template:Country data Northern Territory	No	[12]
Gold Coast	Queensland	Yes (23:00 to 06:00)	[13]
Hobart	Template:Country data Tasmania	No	[14]
Melbourne	Victoria	No	[15]
Newcastle	New South Wales	Yes (22:00 to 06:00)	[16]
Perth	Western Australia	No	Curfew previously proposed, rejected multiple times.[17][18][19]
Sunshine Coast	Queensland	No	While there is no curfew at Sunshine Coast Airport, approval is required for aircraft to take off or land at the airport from 23:00 and 05:30.[20]
Sydney (Kingsford-Smith)	New South Wales	Yes (23:00 to 06:00)	Despite being the busiest airport in Oceania and a hub for the Asia-Pacific region, Sydney Airport has a curfew because it is located in the densely populated suburb of Mascot.[21]
Western Sydney	New South Wales	No	Western Sydney Airport is currently under construction. However, due to it being located away from densely populated suburbs, it will not have a curfew, unlike Sydney Airport, which does have a curfew.[22][23]

There are several studies examining the relationship between aviation noise at night and its effects on health and quality of life. The UK's ANNE study aims to provide insights into how nighttime aviation noise affects sleep disturbance among residents living near airports. Results from this study are expected to inform future regulations and help mitigate adverse effects on communities.^[27][28]

While night flights are crucial for maintaining global trade and passenger connectivity, their impact on local communities cannot be overlooked. Stakeholders argue for a balanced approach that considers both economic benefits and the well-being of residents affected by noise pollution. The US government has expressed concerns over potential reductions in night flight operations in Europe, emphasizing the need for a thorough assessment of economic implications.^[29]

• Short-haul flight ban

• Night flying restrictions at London airports
• Night flying restrictions at Sydney airport

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