Geluid en Informatie rondom vliegbases Leeuwarden en Volkel : Opties voor monitoring en informatievoorziening

Abstract

People living near the military airbases Leeuwarden and Volkel feel unsecure regarding noise levels when the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will come into service in 2019. They are concerned that the new airplanes will cause more annoyance than the F-16s. There is scepticism whether the statutory calculation method is sufficiently reliable to properly assess future noise levels. By the Eijsink motion the House has requested the government to set up permanent measurements to monitor noise contours and to pay specific attention to the noise situation. This research shows that calculation results can be verified, using measuring stations that are continuously in operation throughout the year. A network of measuring sites allows for validation of noise contours and noise production of the new planes. A noise monitoring network is complementary to the calculation, but does not offer a complete alternative. Measurement results can only be obtained locally in a limited number on measurement sites. A calculation method is still needed for the legal evaluation of flight scenarios with spatial images of the noise contours. Furthermore an inventory was made how stakeholders perceive the air force bases and the arrival of the JSF, noise measurements and the current and future communication processes. In the current situation, local residents are generally satisfied with the way people are informed by the air bases on noise issues. For the future situation, there is a strong need for clear information on the JSF and the noise levels it will produce. Residents are concerned that the quality of the environment by the arrival of the JSF will deteriorate and that they, or their children, will suffer sleep disturbance or peak levels. In addition, residents would like to receive more information about flight paths and noise levels. They also want to be informed timely about activities and afterwards about deviations from the normal course of business. Measurements can thereby provide independent information on noise peaks and risks. This may contribute to the confidence that environmental and health aspects are judged and treated in an unbiased and fair manner. It is recommended to monitor both noise levels and the experienced noise nuisance around the bases well before and after the arrival of the JSF.