A relaunched coalition to tackle helicopter noise, and the new government’s views on noise, tax and CO2

9th July, 2010

The past fortnight has seen us working with government, industry and local campaigners.

Tim met with the Department for Transport at the first External Advisory Group session to be held since the election. The group discussed the proposed change from Air Passenger Duty to a per plane tax (deferred pending further consultation), the 2050 CO2 target (which is being re-considered) and airport noise action plans (which DfT is still scrutinising, having already met with seven airports to discuss improvements to the draft plans). Meanwhile, we have been in touch with a number of MPs elected in May this year to discuss our work on noise, climate change and air pollution.

Tim also attended the fifth out of six meetings of a working group set up by the Global Reporting Initiative to develop sustainability indicators for airports’ corporate reporting, and acted as the environmental stakeholder at a meeting of the Sustainable Aviation initiative – an industry coalition working on improving aviation’s environmental credentials.

Finally, AEF this week hosted a meeting of the Helicopter Noise Coalition , which is relaunching as a specialist body to bring together people affected by helicopter noise, whether in cities or open countryside.