Plane and calm
noise from aeroplanes in the us has reduced considerably and will reduce further, says the Federal Aviation Administration, usa . A law passed by the Congress in 1990 says that airlines will have to reduce the number of noisy planes they fly. By 1999, these planes will make up less than one-quarter of airline fleets, and by 2000 must be eliminated. The first 25 per cent was cut in 1994 and the next in 1996.
Some airlines have already met their requirements for 2000 and many are trying to fix or retire old planes. Says James Erickson, director of the aviation agency's office of environment and energy: "The noise in and around the airports we live near is going to change a lot in the next one year. Phasing-out noisy planes will make the difference.'
The noisy planes are called Stage 2. They include McDonnel Douglas dc -9s and older Boeing 727s and 737s. The replacement Stage 3 planes include newer models of the 727 and 737. According to experts, all planes of more than 34 metric tonnes, including small commuter planes will be affected. There are about 7,500 registered planes in the us.
A disturbing fallout in the phasing out is that these noisy planes are being sold overseas. Experts believe that this phase-out may make the us less noisy but this noise may go to some other country, where regulations are not strong. The federal Aviation Administration estimates that in 1975, about seven million people were exposed to a noise level of 65 decibels from planes, the level considered noisy. By 1995, the number was down to 1.7 million and by the year 2000, it would be 600,000 people, the agency said.