Environmental countermeasures and measures for co-existence

Basic ideas of environmental countermeasures and measures for regional development toward further capacity enhancement of Narita Airport

As for realization of further capacity enhancement, impact caused by aircraft noise will be more extensive than ever before, which puts a heavy strain on the local people especially due to the change of restrictions on night flights.

For this reason, at the four-party council meeting held in March 2018, we complied "Basic ideas of environmental countermeasures and measures for co-existence" to protect people's living environment in areas around the airport.

These basic ideas are summarized to reflect opinions made from local residents at meetings that have been held so far to explain to them, as well as requests made from the liaison council of local governments in areas around Narita Airport and demands made from the Chiba prefectural governor.

We would enrich environmental countermeasures and measures for co-existence based on these basic ideas to realize the coexistence and co-prosperity of the region and Airport.

Item Basic ideas of environmental countermeasures and measures for co-existence (overview)
Enlargement of area to be covered, etc., based on noise contours
(500,000 times)
  • By taking the change of restrictions on night flights into account, noise impact estimation with an eye to a longer term will be carried out based on the case of the number of departure and arrival slots of "500,000 times", compared with the previous estimation for about 10 years. (This estimation will become the base for setting up the noise control zone regulated by the Noise Prevention Act and making a decision on city planning based on Special Noise Countermeasures Act.)
  • Based on the noise contours (500,000 times), the noise control zone free from the conventional approach will be set up in such a way that gives a consideration to separation of a small community (village). We will also consult with organizations concerned on setting up the adjoining areas while hearing from local residents.
  • While the noise contours will not be expected to increase any longer on the sides of Runway A, the current noise control zone will be maintained in terms of protection of people's living environment.
  • For the current noise control zone on the south side of Runway B, the current countermeasure level will be maintained until the operation on the south side of Runway B comes to an end because Runway C will be brought into service.
  • Because the crosswind runway plan will not be carried out in the future and the noise impact of it is not generated in the noise contours of this time, noise control zone regulated by the Noise Prevention Act will be subject to a required review, and necessary transitional measures will be taken with reference to a case example of another airport wherein such zone has been reduced.
Upgrade of the noise control works
Double pane window glass
  • As to the "double pane" window glass, we will provide it as the one that conforms to the standard specification as an aid to the extent that the total price of special noise reduction sash and sheet glass does not exceed the total price of commercially available noise reduction sash and double pane window glass.
More flexible system to provide allowable limit of amount, etc. according to the number of family members per household
  • In the event that a head of a household has any child or grandchild even for a house where one person lives, we will increase the allowable limit of amount for noise control works or the like, regarding such house as the house wherein two family members live whether or not they live together, with consideration given to a temporary return home of such child or grandchild.
Sound-proof work for outer walls of bathroom, lavatory and toilet
  • When any sound-proof work for outer walls of bathroom, lavatory and toilet is considered to be more reasonably necessary than sound-proof work for indoor fittings and fixtures, such sound-proof work will be made available within the allowable limit of amount.
Countermeasures against late-night and
early-morning flight noise
Change of restrictions on night flights
  • As interim action to be taken before the runway A is placed in service, we will amend operating hours to 6:00 to 0:00 exclusively for Runway A, assuming that countermeasures against night and early morning flights such as internal windows will be intensively implemented by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics Games. (As the time frame of arrival/departure for Runway A changes, we will investigate the impact on living environment, including a survey on health effects.)
  • Considering the advance implementation of the change of restrictions on night flights, we will offer "Runway A special additional allowance", which is a part of the grant used solely for environmental countermeasures, to municipal governments (Narita City, Shibayama Town, Yokoshibahikari Town, Sammu City, and Town of Kawachi) on the sides of Runway A. (This is a temporary measure to be taken by the time when Runway C is placed in service).
  • After Runway C comes into service, we will put the "sliding operation" system into practice in which different operational hours will be adopted for each runway, and change the entire operational hour to the time period between 5:00 AM and 12:30 AM of the airport after ensuring that quiet hours under the flight routes will be kept at 7 hours.
  • In any situation, current restrictions on the number of flights from 22:00 to 23:00 will be abolished and the flexible operation will be left but limited to a period of 30 minutes.
Installment of internal windows in bedrooms
  • We will put up internal windows in residential bedrooms which are expected to have noise reduction effect of about 35dB to 40dB when combined with the existing noise reduction works to secure sound sleep of the people in the areas in concurrence with the change of restrictions on night flights.
    (Target: Aircraft noise control area specified by Act on Special Measures concerning Countermeasures against Aircraft Noise around Specified Airports, and the zone nestled between such areas)
  • For any "bedrooms", the internal windows will be installed in each of such rooms of which quantity is as many as the number of family members who are currently living together in a house.

* In order to deal with a temporary change of restrictions on night flights, this measure will be taken precedently in the noise control zone of Runway A.

Complementary work for walls of bedrooms and ceilings
  • To maximize the beneficial effect of installation of internal windows to the greatest extent possible, we will perform sound-proof work for walls and ceilings when no such work has been done for them.

* In order to deal with a temporary change of restrictions on night flights, this measure will be taken precedently in the noise control zone of Runway A.

Limit imposed on equipment for flight operations during late-night and early-morning hours
  • For those airplanes that perform flight operations in the time period from 5:00 to 23:00 or later where operation hours are to be extended, only the airplanes that produce less noise* are allowed to take off and land.

* The airplanes that conform to the noise index A for airplanes in Narita Airport (B787, B747-8, A380, A320, etc.); B (B777, B767, etc.) and C (B737, etc.)

Raising the amount
of grant
  • We will raise the total amount of grant in advance because the number of households based on the noise contours at 500,000 times is increased and the calculation method of the annual number of departures and arrivals is changed to the calculation based on the airport capacity calculation method.
    [Current] per household: 300,000 times, per landing fee: 230,000 times (actual number)
    [Planned] per household: 500,000 times, per landing fee: 500,000 times (airport capacity)
  • To contribute to well-balanced development of areas around the airport, we will preferentially allocate a fixed amount of grant as "Regional promotion allocation" from the annual grant to municipal government in the area under noise strain of a certain level, with their financial capability taken into account.
  • The "Regional promotion allocation" will effectively support various development efforts by municipal government by allowing it to be used in education, healthcare, social welfare, and other fields that were not covered previously.
Countermeasures against falling objects
Measures for relocation
  • Drawing a noise contours by taking the future increase of flights into account will allow a larger range of areas to be subjected for compensation for relocation expenses by Act on Special Measures concerning Countermeasures against Aircraft Noise around Specified Airports.
  • "Countermeasures against falling objects from airplanes"* proposed in the four-party council meeting held in June 2017 will be discussed among parties concerned.

* Countermeasures against falling objects from airplanes (proposal)

Support system for remedies to be conferred on any victim suffering from falling objects from airplanes (already introduced in April 1, 2018)
  • We will create a support system based on which remedies will be conferred on a victim should any object falls onto such victim from airplane ("consolation payment" when any person falls victim to a falling object, "payment of advanced expenses payable to victim" when an actual damage occurs, "smooth support" between local residents and airline companies).
Efforts for regional promotion and
development capitalizing
on the airport
  • To contribute to well-balanced development of areas around the airport, we will preferentially allocate a fixed amount of grant as "Regional promotion allocation" from the annual grant to municipal government in the area under noise strain of a certain level, with their financial capability taken into account.
  • The "Regional promotion allocation" will effectively support various development efforts by municipal government by allowing it to be used in education, healthcare, social welfare, and other fields that were not covered previously. (repetition)
  • We will offer maximum cooperation toward realization of regional development, based on "Basic Plan"* regarding regional promotion, which was developed by the Chiba prefectural government and adopted on March 13, 2018, and "Implementation Plan (provisional name)" scheduled to be developed in the future.

* Basic Plan (developed by the Chiba prefectural government)

  • Liaison Council of Regional Promotion will carry out the investigation on local transportation around Narita Airport.

Click here to see the current environmental countermeasures and measures for co-existence

Installment of internal windows in bedrooms (Countermeasures against late-night and early-morning flight noise)

If change of restrictions on night flights takes place, flights will be operated even more late at night and early in the morning, which will put more strain on people. Therefore, in concurrence with the change of restrictions, in order to secure sound sleep of people, we will install internal windows, which are expected to have noise reduction effect of about 35dB to 40dB when combined with the existing noise reduction works, into each of any "bedrooms" of which quantity is as many as the number of family members who are currently living together in a house located in the aircraft noise control area specified by Act on Special Measures concerning Countermeasures against Aircraft Noise around Specified Airports and the zone nestled between such areas.

Considering the change of restrictions on night flights, additional noise control works such as installation of internal windows will be intensively implemented in advance on the sides of Runway A, and the current noise control zone (excluding the zone that assumes the crosswind runway) will be maintained in terms of protection of people's living environment.

Noise reduction effect

By putting up internal windows in bedrooms in addition to usual noise reduction works, if, for instance, when an airplane of 80dB passes, the noise level in the bedroom becomes about 45dB due to the noise canceling effect of internal windows, we consider serenity equivalent to a library or quiet office room can be secured.

Details of the work

The work will keep the existing aluminum sash as is, and add a plastic sash with a sheet glass (5mm) within it. As it uses the existing sash to install a frame inside it for additional window, no extensive work is required.

This work will create an air space between the internal window and outside window, which increases the noise canceling effect. * There is no need to break walls or windows in principle.

Installation image of internal window

* To maximize the beneficial effect of installation of internal windows to the greatest extent possible, we will perform sound-proof work for walls and ceilings when no such work has been done for them.
(In order to deal with a temporary change of restrictions on night flights, this measure will be taken precedently in the noise control zone of Runway A.)