Air traffic on the rise at Trudeau

Air traffic at Trudeau airport went up between January and the end of June by more than five per cent compared to the same period last year. The number of passengers went up by eight per cent.

In 1995, ADM estimates 107,300 people were affected by airplane noise. Ten years later, this number dropped to 29,992 — a decrease of 72 per cent.

Statistics for the last two years are not yet available, said Christiane Beaulieu, ADM’s vice-president, public affairs.

Beaulieu says newer airplanes such as Airbus, Bombardier CRJs and Dash 8s make significantly less noise than earlier models. These relatively quiet planes now make up more than half the aircraft at Trudeau airport.

ADM is increasingly rerouting flights out of Trudeau through a corridor north of Dorval in order to avoid high population areas.

“More and more, with the new technology, we are able to move aircraft quickly into low population areas like highways and industrial parks,” Beaulieu said.

Some St. Laurent residents say this has caused increased noise pollution in their neighbourhood, especially those living in new housing developments in line with flight paths.

“I’m sorry to say, but the airport was there first. An airport is an airport and planes have to take off and land,” Beaulieu said.

Beaulieu also said the restriction on overnight flights in and out of Trudeau has helped. But in the case of an emergency, exceptions are made, and planes below 45,000 kilograms are not subject to the curfew.

“One night it (the noise) was especially bad and it woke me,” said Dorval resident Mort Bain.

Bain said the plane flew overhead around 3 a.m.

“I called the ADM the next day and apparently the pilot had not obeyed the orders from the tower.”

Beaulieu said the ADM is constantly looking to reduce noise pollution.

“It’s a continuous process to make the

situation better for everyone.