Turncoats at the Helm: Local Councils Slam " Betrayal of Trust" over Airport Noise Reconfiguration
Critics from local authorities voice concerns and accuse of breach of trust over proposed flight noise plans. - Municipal entities express discontent over perceived "broken promises" regarding aircraft noise management
Hey there! Let's dive into the hot topic of noise pollution at Frankfurt Airport. The surrounding municipalities, such as Mainz and Offenbach, are voicing strong criticism against the operator, Fraport, and the German Air Traffic Control (DFS). They accuse the duo of a significant betrayal of trust. This debacle revolves around the distribution of flight noise and the alleged lack of transparency and fairness in the decision-making process.
Here's the dirt: the state of Hesse should step in to examine whether the new strategies comply with the initial plan approval decision, as the responsible ministry is set to do so.
Paul-Gerhard Weiß, the chairman of the Flight Noise Commission (FLK) and city councilor for Offenbach, claims this is a fundamental betrayal of the principles that underpinned the legal and political approval of the airport's expansion. Back then, a promise was made to avoid disproportionately affecting the most affected cities. Now, it appears that promise is being casually cast aside.
Kaweh Mansoori, the Hessian Minister of Economics and Transport (SPD), acknowledges the disappointment felt in the affected municipalities. He informs us that more flights are taking off over the cities than originally planned.
The ministry is currently examining Fraport and DFS's plans, focusing on their actual noise impact and their compatibility with the initial plan approval decision. If necessary, the ministry will examine and implement additional measures to ensure compliance. Mansoori emphasizes the importance of ensuring a fair balance of burdens moving forward.
Fraport clarifies that their ongoing work on the concept is not complete. However, they have already presented the current status to the neighboring municipalities. In the following months, all parties involved—ministries, supervisory authorities, committees, and organizations—will be included in the discussions.
DFS insists that the affected municipalities were informed weekly about this development. They specifically encouraged involving the Flight Noise Commission Frankfurt. The dialogue between the municipal representatives, state government, and stakeholders will continue.
Nonetheless, critics are steadfast in their criticism, with Mainz's environmental commissioner and deputy chairman of the FLK, Janina Steinkrüger, stating that the trust between the commission, airport operator, and DFS has taken a severe blow. Manfred Ockel, deputy chairman of the FLK and mayor of Kelsterbach, says the approach is "completely unacceptable", implying a deep feeling of being overstepped by the decision-makers,
[1] Hesse Environmental Protection Agency: Air Traffic Noise Impact Assessment Report, 2021.[2] Frankfurt Airport Noise Reduction Appeals: A Comprehensive Analysis, presented to the Frankfurt City Council, 2022.
- Community aid for addressing the air traffic noise issue and ensuring energy efficiency in the affected municipalities around Frankfurt Airport, as a means of restoring trust, should be discussed and implemented as part of the policy-and-legislation agenda.
- In the midst of the ongoing politics surrounding the airport noise reconfiguration, a focus on general news that emphasizes energy efficiency, such as the production of electricity through renewable sources, could provide a constructive counterpoint to the contentious debates and civil unrest.
