Single person’s 20,716 complaints account for nearly half of Australia’s aircraft noise reports
- A resident in Perth, Western Australia accounted for nearly half of the country’s aircraft noise complaints in 2023
- Of a total 51,589 complaints in total, the Perth resident living under a flight path made 20,716 complaints
- They may have a point, though, as research indicates aircraft noise can affect health, well-being, and even finances
Published on May 03, 2024 at 2:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on May 07, 2024 at 6:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The true definition of irony, someone living under a flight path in western Australia is somewhat of a prolific complainer.
So much so, that their complaints amounted to nearly half of Australia’s aircraft noise reports last year.
Data provided by Airservices Australia reveals that the unidentified person from Perth made 20,716 complaints about the sound of overflying aircraft in 2023.
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To put that into perspective, there were 51,589 complaints in total last year, which is more than double the tally of 25,178 in 2022.
According to the data, the runner-up complainant – who hails from the Brisbane area – made 4,701 complaints.
Airservices Australia is responsible for managing air traffic in Australian airspace.
It recently provided a submission to a Senate inquiry into the impact of aircraft noise on cities and regional centers.
Just imagine living under a flight path when the iconic Concorde aircraft was still in service.
Vintage footage shows Concorde departing from Heathrow with fiery afterburners.
This 2003 footage shows how extraordinary it was to live near London Heathrow Airport as Concorde took off.
It goes without saying that people who live under flight paths can be adversely affected by traffic passing overhead.
The reality is, noise pollution from aircraft can harm a person’s health and well-being.
Not only that, though, as research suggests it can also impede children’s school performance, disrupt sleep quality, and even increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Research has been conducted about one specific airport in the US, Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport.
It found that loud noise from aircraft also has financial implications on residents, owing to lost productivity and the need for medical treatment.
What’s more, the study estimated that the combined medical cost burden for those living under the flight path would be $800 million over 30 years.
Adam Gray
Adam Gray is an experienced motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for supercarblondie.com. Before joining the Supercar Blondie team, Adam was Motoring Editor for Portfolio North magazine, North East Motoring Editor at Reach plc, and provided motoring content on a freelance basis to several lifestyle and business publications in the North of England. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
