Protect local residents from excessive aircraft noise at Fife Airport

In particular, we want the Council to investigate reasonable restrictions on operating hours and repetitive high-power flying, measures to avoid prolonged flying over residential areas wherever practicable, and whether quieter aircraft or effective noise-reduction measures could be required or encouraged.

We are not asking for Fife Airport to close. We are asking for a reasonable balance between aviation activity and the right of local residents to enjoy their homes and communities without being subjected to repetitive aircraft noise for hours at a time.

For many residents living around Fife Airport, a nice day now comes with a downside: hours of repetitive aircraft noise.

The problem is not an occasional aircraft arriving at or departing from the airport. During suitable weather, aircraft used for activities such as parachuting can repeatedly climb under high engine power, descend and then do it all over again, hour after hour.

On a recent Sunday, these operations began at around 10am and were still continuing at 7:30pm. That is almost an entire day of repeated aircraft noise affecting people in their homes and gardens.

We accept that Fife Airport is an established airfield and that some aircraft noise comes with living within the surrounding area. What we question is whether residents should reasonably be expected to tolerate repetitive high-power recreational and commercial flying for nine or ten hours at a time, with seemingly very little protection from excessive noise.

It is particularly frustrating that there are detailed rules and guidance intended to minimise the impact of activities such as model aircraft flying, yet residents can feel almost powerless when the source of considerably greater and more persistent noise is a full-size aircraft.

This isn't about stopping people enjoying aviation, nor are we asking for Fife Airport to close.

We're asking for balance.

We want Fife Council to establish exactly what permissions and conditions apply to these intensive operations and to work with the airport and operators on practical ways of reducing their impact. That could include reasonable operating hours, avoiding prolonged repetitive flying over residential areas wherever possible, reviewing climb and flight patterns, and encouraging the use of quieter aircraft and noise-reduction measures.

People who enjoy flying and skydiving should be able to enjoy their hobbies and businesses — but the people living underneath them should be able to enjoy a sunny Sunday in their own gardens too.

Please sign this petition if you agree that a better balance needs to be found.