Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport’s Aeronautical Noise Management Program

The Aeronautical Noise Management Program at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport was developed in conjunction with its partners in the aviation sector, and various levels of government. The primary intent of the program is to minimize noise impacts on surrounding residential areas, while protecting the economic benefits a 24-hour airport provides.

What is Noise?

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport’s Noise Management Program consists of three major components: Abatement, Mitigation, and Monitoring.

Noise Abatement

The Noise Abatement Program is designed to control and reduce aircraft noise though the modification of standard aircraft operations or procedures. Working in tandem with this Program are Transport Canada regulations governing aircraft noise levels.

Noise Mitigation

Mitigation involves methods of reducing or minimizing noise disturbances through management efforts such as land use planning, municipal bylaws and other cooperative efforts with local municipalities. 

Monitoring

Monitoring is intended to track trends and changes in reported disturbances in order to assess the effectiveness of the Noise Management Program.

Noise Management Measures: A History

The Airport, under the name of Stevenson Airfield, has been operational since 1928, later becoming the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. By 1938 the airport was functioning in a manner similar to its operation today- servicing passenger, cargo, military and private aircraft 24 hours a day.

Changes in the layout of the airfield and the operation of the airport have been made over time. The runways were realigned in 1948 to their current layout, and the first jet aircraft arrived in 1955. In 1960 the passenger terminal was constructed, and the runways were expanded north and northwest to their current length. The airport remains a 24-hour facility reflecting its central location in the national airports system.

Airport planning in the 1970’s and early 1980’s took into consideration the impact of aircraft noise disturbance on Winnipeg residents. From 1989 onward, the airport has actively sought to manage aircraft noise by exploring the feasibility of alternative aircraft operating procedures in conjunction the airlines, Nav Canada and Transport Canada. The airport has also worked with the City of Winnipeg and the RM of Rosser to incorporate appropriate land use planning in the vicinity of the airport and along the flight paths.

Measuring the Success of Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport’s Noise Management Program

The percentage of reports to total aircraft movements since 1994 has been small, trending below 0.25% for the last fourteen years.

Aircraft Movement Reports
Year Total Noise Reports Total Aircraft Movements Reports per 1,000 Movements
2007 158 151,793 1.0
2006* 362 144,641 2.5
2005 238 137,787 1.7
2004 193 140,403 1.4
2003* 354 152,086 2.3
2002 258 155,912 1.6
2001 186 152,950 0.8
2000 204 156,029 1.3
1999 176 156,527 1.1
1998 193 150,085 1.3
1997 206 155,193 1.3
1996 223 155,065 1.4
1995 340 156,002 2.2
1994 330 154,868 2.1
*In 2003 and 2006, one runway was closed down for runway rehabilitation activities; therefore all traffic was redirected to the other operational runway. The restriction to the one runway resulted in an increase in noise reports in these years.

The charts demonstrate the decrease in the NEF profiles from 1979 to 2000. The size of the areas and the populations subject to aircraft disturbances has decreased from 1979 to 2000.

Bar Chart: Reductions in the Size of the Areas Most Affected by Aircraft Noise in the City of Winnipeg -1979 - 2000-
Bar Chart: Reductions in the Size of the Population Most Affected by Aircraft Noise in the City of Winnipeg -1979 - 2000-

While air traffic has increased gradually over time, aircraft disturbance has decreased substantially. Aircraft technologies have improved and quieter aircraft - passenger, private, cargo and military, have come on line. Also contributing to improvements have been the modern Noise Abatement and Mitigation programs. The success of these efforts are measured in terms of fewer calls to the noise reporting line today than in the mid 1990s and a dramatic decrease in the Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) disturbance profiles between 1979 and 2000.

Click here to view The Airport In Our Neighbourhood, a brochure on WAA's Aeronautical Noise Management Program.