Environmental Issues
Environmental Policy | Aircaft Noise | Approach, Departure & Circuits | Future Development | Airport Surface Access | Carbon Balance Flights | Flying Matters | Airline Responsibility
Environmental Policy
The Airport's Environmental Policy sets out the commitment to operating in a manner that takes responsibility for environmental aspects and impacts through the development and improvement of management systems. Our Master Plan sets out the sustainable development criteria and as an investment company of Balfour Beatty, we share their Sustainability vision.
Aircaft Noise
The majority of commercial aircraft are guided by Exeter's Air Traffic Control (ATC) onto the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at between 8 and 20 miles from the airport. ATC also deal with air traffic
in a 2.5 mile radius around the airport but they will not necessarily
have contact with the pilot of a light aircraft.
Aircraft also operate in the area from other airfields such as Dunkerswell, Branscombe, Farway, Eaglescott and Plymouth, and the RAF fly through the region from bases in the UK. Complaints about military low flying activity should be directed to: Ministry of Defence Air Staff, Complaints and Enquiries Unit, Level 5, Zone H, Main Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB - telephone: 0207 218 6020 or use the MoD Low Flying Complaints page of their website.
For police helicopter issues telephone: 0845 277 7444
General complaints about aviation environmental impact or requests for advice and information about particular types of aircraft activity should be addressed to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Unusual and unacceptable noise from aircraft using Exeter Airport may be reported on the Contact Us page of this website. These will be taken to Exeter International Airport's Consultative Committee which meets regularly to discuss environmental and noise issues. It works to the Department for Transport Guidelines for Airport Consultative Committees and has representatives from Local Parish, District and City Councils. Issues for consideration may also be addressed to: Exeter International Airport Consultative Committee, The Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth EX10 8HL. The Airport Consultative Committee meeting minutes are posted on the Administration page.
The Managing Aircraft Noise document also has answers to frequently asked questions.
Approach, Departure & Circuits
During landing, take off and when undertaking training or other manoeuvres, aircraft use the established routes for Approach, Departure and Circuits.
Future Development
The airport's future development is detailed in the Airport Master Plan.
Airport Surface Access
In accordance with the DfT directive, the airport hosts Airport Transport Forums to discuss Exeter International Airport's Airport Surface Access Strategy (ASAS). See the Administration page's Airport Surface Access.
Carbon Balance Flights
Exeter International Airport offers passengers the opportunity of using a CO2 calculator. Following the calculation, passengers are invited to contribute to co2balance.com schemes that will minimise the effect of their flight's carbon emissions. The South West company will invest funds in sequestration or energy efficiency projects that absorb or prevent the release of the CO2 equivalent to the Carbon Footprint of the flight.
Flying Matters
FlyingMatters represents a broad coalition of all those interested in supporting sustainable growth in aviation including the business community, trade
unions, tourism bodies, farmers in the developing world and a wide
range of air transport users. The group wish to:
- ensure that within the public debate proper account is taken of the economic and social benefits of aviation.
- contribute to a balanced and informed debate on aviation's contribution to climate change.
- promote the technological progress made and being made to ensure flying is as clean and quiet as possible both today and in the future.
- demonstrate that the environmental costs of aviation can and are being addressed effectively, efficiently and fairly.
- do business in the global economy, to travel on holiday, or to simply see friends and relatives in other parts of the world sustainably.
Airline Responsibility
Environmental performance has always been high on the aviation industry's agenda and
IATA, the International Air Transport Association with its membership
of airlines, seeks to balance social, economic and Environmental Objectives in order to secure the well-being of present and future enerations. IATA has information on Climate Change, Fuel Efficiency, Local Air Quality and Sustainability.
Levels have come down and the "noise footprint" of a modern jet
aircraft is less than 15% of that of the aircraft it replaces. Fuel Efficiency
is very important and today's newest aircraft often match the energy
consumption of modern cars and in some cases, depending on speed and
distance, even of high speed trains.
Flybe, the largest operator at Exeter International Airport, has services that save 17.5 million car miles every year. Flybe's Eco Aircraft Labelling Scheme provides passengers with a user-friendly breakdown of the fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise patterns of the aircraft type to be used on their journey. The Sustanable Aviation document Flybe Myths & Realities seeks to put the record straight on matters of the environmental impact and compliments those of IATA in the document Aviation and the Environment.
