YUL may extend operating hours
Trudeau airport is proposing to extend its opening hours till 1 a.m. and people living nearby have already started a petition against it. Right now, heavier planes can’t take off between midnight and 7 a.m.
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Kate
Reply
Nicholas 19:02 on 2024-06-16 Permalink
People can disagree with the hours, but I honestly think this proposal is better than the status quo. Currently light aircraft can operate 24/7. Light aircraft aren’t just two-seater planes: take a look at all the commercial flights that leave at 6 am! And lighter doesn’t mean quieter.
The proposal would put aircraft movements into noise bands, with the quietest planes , based on international testing, given the widest window. Instead of using a proxy (weight) we’d be using what we actually want to measure (noise). And they allow a wider range for landings, which are quieter, than takeoffs in some cases, like today, recognizing that noise is what matters. And they are more stringent in the summer, when windows might be open.
The consultation website is actually very readable, and I think makes a reasonable case, though making some changes might be reasonable. Curfews are not super common in North America, and I don’t think we’ll be getting, say, Zurich-style “nothing scheduled after 11 and no late arrivals past 11:30” curfews.
I should add that the ability of windows to block sound varies immensely, and it’s not just price. Upgrading to more sound-proof, more insulating windows (which often don’t look “historic” but work much better) can make a world of difference, and not just near airports. Lots of people live near highways and train lines, and busy streets, and night districts.
Kate 19:31 on 2024-06-16 Permalink
Not to be obvious, but some of us like to keep our windows open. Not everyone lives in a place that’s hermetically sealed and mechanically ventilated.
(I’m listening to planes going over as I type. I don’t mind them but I can see how someone might.)
Nicholas 20:27 on 2024-06-16 Permalink
I like windows open too. But that’s a side point. Regardless, I think it is good to move to a noise model, not a weight model. And today some jet planes can land and take off 24/7, while if this goes into effect that will no longer be true. Today the largest planes are restricted from landing for just 6 hours and taking off for 7 (with a bunch of exceptions allowing operations during the curfew), while the proposal restricts them to 9 hours for the loudest planes and 7 or 8 hours (summer/winter) for the next level, plus 7 hours for takeoffs for nearly all planes except regional jets and propellers. So in many cases this is more restrictive than today.
And, realistically, they’re not going to close the second busiest airport in the country for 7 hours a day. Toronto Pearson operates 24/7, and has 6 hours of restricted flight time, where about 4% of passenger capacity occurs. Vancouver is also 24/7, with restrictions on larger planes only for 5 hours. They’re welcome to sign petitions, but they’re not going to close Dorval for 7 hours a day. It’d be like closing the highways on the island at night.
su 08:23 on 2024-06-17 Permalink
The increase in planes is a good indicator of GDP growth. The petitioners should focus on what counts.
MarcG 14:05 on 2024-06-17 Permalink
Gonna assume that’s some top-tier sarcasm.