ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 1 October 2020 Aviation noise during lockdown Report for ICCAN Ben Marshall, Kyra Xypolia, Alice Walford ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 2 This work was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the international quality standard for Market Research, ISO 20252, and with the Ipsos MORI Terms and Conditions which can be found at http://www.ipsos-mori.com/terms. © Ipsos MORI 2020 ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 3 Contents 1. Summary ................................................................................................................................. 5 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8 3. Noise: what has changed? .................................................................................................. 12 3.1 Coronavirus and impacts .......................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Most use airports for leisure and almost half see the economic value of living nearby ....... 13 3.3 Most were affected by noise before lockdown… ..................................................................... 15 3.4 …however this did not impact their satisfaction levels with their local area ........................ 16 3.4 Two-thirds were bothered by aviation noise during the day pre-lockdown ........................... 16 3.5 Just under nine in ten report less aeroplane noise since lockdown started… ..................... 18 3.6 …and noise as being less bothersome .................................................................................... 18 3.7 Most interference is with time outdoors plus having windows and doors open ................... 20 3.8 Aeroplane noise interferes with homelife significantly less than it did ................................. 21 4. Noise: where is there difference? ....................................................................................... 24 Differences by age ........................................................................................................................... 24 Differences by airport band ............................................................................................................ 29 Differences by connection to aviation industry ............................................................................. 33 Appendix A – Sampling and sample profile ................................................................................... 36 Appendix B – Statistical reliability .................................................................................................. 38 ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 4 1 Summary ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 5 1. Summary • Ipsos MORI conducted a telephone survey during 18 June-13 July for the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN). This involved interviews with 2,006 18+ year old adults living at addresses within postcodes covered by the 2018 average summer day 54 dB LAeq,16h contours around a selection of airports; Gatwick, Edinburgh, Manchester and Heathrow. East Midlands airport was also sampled using the 2019 average summer day 54 dB LAeq,16h contours (further details are provided in Appendix A). • Before the start of the coronavirus lockdown: - almost all of those living within the noise contour areas said they could hear aeroplane noise from where they live (92%); - two-thirds (66%) were bothered by aviation noise during the day, and 44% were bothered during the night; - just under half were moderately or slightly bothered by noise during the day (47%); and - noise did not impact on very high levels of satisfaction with the local area. • Since the start of lockdown: - the vast majority (86%) reported hearing less aeroplane noise; - 61% had not noticed any changes to flight paths (29% had); - 13% were bothered by aeroplane noise at night, a drop from 44%; - the intensity and regularity of how much aeroplane noise bothers or disturbs also dropped significantly; and - aeroplane noise interferes with homelife significantly less than it did. Pre-lockdown (Q18) Since lockdown started (Q11) The day and The day and The night The night evening evening (11pm-7am) (11pm-7am) (7am-11pm) (7am-11pm) Bothered 66% 44% 28% 13% Extremely/ very 19% 11% 3% 2% bothered Moderately/ slightly 47% 33% 25% 11% bothered Not bothered at all 34% 55% 71% 86% Source: Ipsos MORI/ICCAN; Base: All respondents who hear aeroplane noise from where they live (pre-lockdown 1,845; since lockdown started 1,986); Fieldwork dates: 18th June – 13th July 2020. Findings might not sum to 100% due to computer rounding; more information can be found in section 2.3 of this report. ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 6 • The impact of lockdown on aeroplane noise was more pronounced than it was on other transport noise such as road or rail noise. Although a slightly higher proportion recalled hearing aeroplane noise before the lockdown period than did the same of other transport noise (92% vs. 86%), many more thought that aviation noise had decreased (86% vs. 66%). • Around half (48%) said they would not mind if aviation noise returned to pre-lockdown levels. While fewer disagreed (38%), the strength of opinion was equally spread; a fifth strongly agreed and the same proportion strongly disagreed. The remainder, 14%, did not give an answer either way, or answered don’t know. • Younger age groups were less exposed to and bothered by aeroplane noise than other age groups, meaning that they were less likely to have noticed a reduction since lockdown. They were more likely to prioritise the environment over the industry’s recovery. • Those living around Heathrow were more likely to hear the most aeroplane noise before lockdown, with almost half saying they had heard a lot. And since lockdown started, 84% of those bothered by aeroplane noise near Heathrow reported some interference with homelife, more than elsewhere. In summary, most of those living near to this handful of airports recall having been bothered by aeroplane noise before lockdown and said they experienced a reduction in noise since lockdown. But despite this period of relief, far more said they ‘wouldn’t mind’ if aviation noise returned to pre-lockdown levels than took the opposite view, and more agreed than disagreed that their local airport brings economic benefits which outweigh the disadvantages. On balance, though, local people prioritised a ‘green recovery’ over an aviation one. These sentiments could change in the months and years ahead. While our annual Aviation Index for NATS has pointed to a sea change in public attitudes towards aviation and the environment as well as scepticism about the ability of the industry to become carbon neutral, coronavirus and its economic impacts might change perspectives. This means that there will be value in monitoring public sentiment as well as the experiences and attitudes of communities as air traffic movement gradually recovers to normal, or near-normal, levels. ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 7 2 Introduction ICCAN | Ipsos MORI | 20-036970-01 | Aviation noise during lockdown 8 2. Introduction This report presents findings from analysis of a survey commissioned by the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) undertaken during June-July 2020. The aim of the research was to secure a quantitative measurement of local attitudes and experiences towards aviation noise during the COVID-19 period which has seen reduced levels of aviation and noise. Key research questions are as follows: 1. Has exposure to aviation noise changed during the ‘lockdown’ period from respondents’ experiences? 2. What are the current attitudes towards aviation noise? 3. Have there been any changes in the extent to which aviation noise bothers, disturbs or annoys people? 4. Are there any factors which are contributing to people’s current exposure to aviation noise, e.g. a decrease in other transport noise (rail and road), working from home or spending more time at home/ in garden? 2.1 Survey methodology The survey was conducted using the following methodology: • a telephone survey of 2,006 18+ year old adults living at addresses within postcodes covered by the 2018 average summer day (2019 for East Midlands) 54 dB LAeq,16h contours around a purposively chosen selection of airports in Great Britain, involving a 15-minute questionnaire designed by Ipsos MORI and ICCAN; • participants were sourced through postcodes provided by Civil Aviation Authority, from which we identified residential areas and purchased Random Digit Dialling landline telephone numbers supplemented with ‘targeted’ samples including mobile phone numbers; • airports were purposively selected and split across three bands based on the volume of air transport movements around them; the ‘small’ band included East Midlands and Edinburgh airports, the ‘medium’ band involved Gatwick and Manchester airports and the ‘large’ one Heathrow airport; • sampling was structured to secure a total of 2,000 interviews; • quotas were set by age, gender and working status at aggregate level and, disproportionately, to ensure sufficient respondents within the ‘small’ and ‘medium’ bands to allow for robust disaggregation at the analysis stage; • data has