New portal offers insight into airport operations for local residents
East Midlands Airport has introduced a new online platform designed to offer guidance and insights into its operations, as well as the measures taken to reduce its impact on nearby communities.
The portal, called East Midlands Insightfull, provides interactive features that allow users to enter an address or select a location on a map. This generates tailored dashboard reports specific to that area, including details such as flight frequency, aircraft altitude, and noise levels recorded by local sound monitors.
In addition to interactive data, the site includes videos, supporting documents, and answers to frequently asked questions on topics like flight paths, night operations, and noise monitoring. It also explains key aspects of airport activity, including:
Aircraft arrive and depart either eastwards or westwards depending on wind direction, with westbound operations (arrivals over the M1) occurring around 75% of the time.
The airport promotes a “continuous descent approach,” allowing aircraft to remain at higher altitudes for longer and descend gradually, reducing noise. This was achieved on average 91% of the time last year.
Departing aircraft use one of five designated “noise preferential routes,” each 2.4 km wide, designed to limit the number of communities overflown. Aircraft must remain on these routes until reaching at least 5,000 feet.
Interactive maps display typical arrival and departure paths and offer guidance on how to determine whether your area is affected by overhead flights.
Training flights, which involve lower-altitude circuits and different routes, are subject to restrictions, including bans on weekends and public holidays, and limits on operating hours.
Night flights between 11pm and 7am are tightly controlled, including restrictions on noisier aircraft and penalties for exceeding noise limits.
A Sound Insulation Grant Scheme is available to support homeowners most affected by aircraft noise, helping to improve soundproofing.
The airport also maintains ongoing engagement with local communities, offering opportunities for residents to raise concerns and stay informed. The new portal aims to make up-to-date, relevant information more accessible to everyone.
Sue Thomas, Head of Noise and Community Engagement at the airport’s parent company MAG, said the initiative reflects the airport’s commitment to being a responsible neighbour. She explained that the portal is intended to make key operational information easily accessible, provide location-specific insights, and help address misconceptions while highlighting continuous improvements in how the airport operates.
The portal can be accessed here: https://communitynoiseportal.eastmidlandsairport.com/
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