Noise management

Measuring the success of our Noise Management Program

The percentage of noise reports to aircraft movements since 1994 trends below 0.25% for the last 20 years and continues to improve.

Understanding airport noise

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport isn't responsible for setting flight paths or flying planes, but we are responsible for communicating with the public about noise from aircraft that take off and land at the airport. We're also responsible for minimizing noise impacts from airport development activities. Here are some factors that affect aircraft noise at YWG:

• Construction may influence the frequency of aircraft movements on runways. Like city streets, our runways require preventative maintenance and improvement. Runway maintenance is temporary and could require one runway to be used more often or differently than normal.
• Atmospheric conditions such as temperature, wind, humidity, rain, and cloud cover impact the way you experience aircraft noise. In certain atmospheric conditions, you may notice more sound than normal.
• For safety reasons, aircraft usually need to land and depart in the same direction as the wind. That means an 'into-the-wind' runway direction is almost always adopted for landings and takeoffs.
• Modern aircrafts are generally quieter than older aircrafts. Many airlines are updating their fleets to phase out older aircraft over time.

Noise abatement

Regulations governing aircraft noise

The Federal Minister of Transport is responsible for setting aircraft noise regulations in Canada.

Noise abatement procedures

Noise abatement procedures are in-flight operations designed to minimize noise disturbances to residential areas along flight paths as well as areas close to the airport. The NAPs are a result of consultation between the airport, Nav Canada, Transport Canada, the airlines, and the local community.

The NAPs in place at YWG are consistent with those for other international airports across the country but are specific to the pattern of land use around the airport, the runway layout, and the wind conditions, which influence safe aircraft arrivals and departures.

Night-time restrictions

Night-time operating restrictions include:

Runway use

• Preferential runway use is in affect from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Air traffic controllers attempt to divert night-time departures and arrivals away from residential areas, unless conditions such as wind and weather systems are a factor.

Departure procedures

• Jet aircraft can't depart south or southwest from a mid-way point on the runway. This means aircraft achieve a higher altitude by the time they are flying over residential areas.

Flight training

• Prior approval is required for local flight training from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. to ensure only activities requiring darkness are permitted. These flights must also comply with arrival, departure, and noise abatement procedures set out in the Canada Air Pilot.

Maintenance engine run-ups

• Run-ups test aircraft functionality after maintenance or repairs. WAA manages a run-up procedure to minimize the impact they may have on the surrounding community.

Reverse thrust

• Reverse thrust is not permitted unless required for the safety of the aircraft.

Powerback operations

• Aircraft are not permitted to powerback.

Attenuation wall

An attenuation wall was constructed to reduce the impact of noise from Apron 4 operations on the southeast side of the airfield.

Aircraft movement reports