Noise Pollution Around Suvarnabhumi Airport Will Be Dealt With

[Jai Dee]

Tripartite committee urges AoT to expedite compensation for people affected by Suvarnabhumi noise

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Chairman of the tripartite committee looking into noise pollution at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chisawat Kittipornpaibul (ชัยสวัสดิ์ กิตติพรไพบูลย์), discloses that the committee has urged the Airports of Thailand to expedite compensation for residents living in areas affected by loud noises from the airport.

Mr Chaisawat says the committee has also requested AoT to stick to the Cabinet’s resolution on May 29th, 2005, on compensation for those affected by the noise pollution and conduct research on noise exposure forecast contours.

In addition, the committee has asked AoT to arrange a meeting between people affected by the noise pollution in order to help them decide whether to stay or move out of the area.

In the meantime, Director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation, Chaisak Angkasuwan (ชัยศักดิ์ อังค์สุวรรณ), reveals that the next meeting of the tripartite committee will review long-term solutions to the noise problem. The committee will as well decide whether to buy all areas in the north and the south of the airport to use them for aviation businesses.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 October 2007

[Jai Dee]

Transport deputy minister pays heed attention to Suvarnabhumi residents

The Transport Deputy Minister, Mr. Sansern Wongcha-um (สรรเสริญ วงศ์ชะอุ่ม), made an inspection to problems of communities affected by noise pollution near Suvarnabhumi Airport while insisting to accelerate payout for those affected.

Mr. Sansern met the residents surrounding Suvarnabhumi Airport and acknowledged their problems. He has ensured them that the Transport Ministry is ready to pay heed attention to their problems and also speed up the distribution of compensation.

The Deputy Minister of Transport adds that it will hold the tripartite meeting next Tuesday (October 31st) in expediting assistance delivery.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 October 2007

[Jai Dee]

Residents near Suvarnabhumi call for emergency protection

Residents near Suvarnabhumi Airport are about to lodge their complaint to the court, demanding an urgent protection by not permitting aircrafts to land on the airport from 9 PM to 5 AM.

Mr. Prasert Bunkaew (ประเสริฐ บุญแก้ว), the community leader near Suvarnabhumi Airport, reveals that today (November 21st) at 12:30 PM, members from the Lawyer Association together with 300 residents who have been disturbed by noises from the airport will file their complaint to the Administrative Court. The troubled residents would like the authority to disallow planes from landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport's northern and southern runways at the time when they are resting at night.

The trilateral committee meeting will be held next week to determine whether the Cabinet's resolutions on November 11th, 2006 and May 29th, 2007 are appropriate. If not, the proposals will be brought up to the Cabinet’s attention before this government’s term expires.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 November 2007

[magpie3]

Residents near Suvarnabhumi call for emergency protection

Jai Dee

Just a word to thank you for your tireless work supplying much appreciated information. Don't know how popular this topic is but I look forward to all information you can provide.

I'll be hoping for more positive info (although not expecting it) when I'm there over the next few months.

Many thanks!

Magpie3

[Jai Dee]

AOT President will allow payment to Suvarnabhumi residents affected by 40 NEF or more noise pollution

Airports of Thailand (AOT) Board President and Deputy Chief of Defense General Saprang Kalayanimitr (สพรั่ง กัลยาณมิตร) revealed that compensation would be given to residents in the Suvarnabhumi airport area for noise pollution. AOT though, will only give compensate residents in zones with 40 Noise Exposure Forecast ratings (NEF) strength noise pollution or stronger.

The company states that residents experiencing noise under 40 NEF must contact the Ministry of Transport and request assistance from the government on the matter. General Saprang states that the compensatory fund is limited and the company has several other more pressing matters to utilize it in.

AOT Board Spokesman Chermsak Pinthong (เจิมศักดิ์ ปิ่นทองในฐานะ) commented on the situation in which residents have filed complaints with the court to cease take offs and landings during the night would have a major effect on the workings of the airport. He said that many airlines would lose major flights and many of them would divert flights to other countries.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 November 2007

[Jai Dee]

Jai Dee

Just a word to thank you for your tireless work supplying much appreciated information. Don't know how popular this topic is but I look forward to all information you can provide.

I'll be hoping for more positive info (although not expecting it) when I'm there over the next few months.

Many thanks!

Magpie3

You're welcome magpie3.

[magpie3]

"AOT President will allow payment to Suvarnabhumi residents affected by 40 NEF or more noise pollution

The company states that residents experiencing noise under 40 NEF must contact the Ministry of Transport and request assistance from the government on the matter. General Saprang states that the compensatory fund is limited and the company has several other more pressing matters to utilize it in.

AOT Board Spokesman Chermsak Pinthong (เจิมศักดิ์ ปิ่นทองในฐานะ) commented on the situation in which residents have filed complaints with the court to cease take offs and landings during the night would have a major effect on the workings of the airport. He said that many airlines would lose major flights and many of them would divert flights to other countries. "

A few questions for Khun Chermsak Pinthong and General Saprang.

Is there a graphic/map of the 40NEF area? If there is such a map, does it mean that the residents in the effected area would be fully compensated by purchase of land and house?

And what of the element of damages to be paid for having to put up with the noise pollution since the airport was built - the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) must have been ignored when deciding which land should be purchased before construction, meaning there has been negligence causing unnecessary distress for those under the flightpath.

If the compensatory fund is lmited, will that reduce levels of compensation for residents - rather than AOT paying what the going rate for compensation?

The comment regarding "other more pressing matters" is unfortunate at best and will only inflame the passion of those who have been ignored for so long already, and will reinforce the numbers willing to go to court to make them more of a priority.

Having just come back to Thialand recently, I guess this is where I start to get plugged bback in to this sorry situation. Anyone with a will to talk, have a beer, organise a revolt or otherwise please let me know.

Regards

[magpie3]

For what it may be worth, (as no-one appears to be adding to this thread other than JaiDee and myself),

here is a Pointasia photo of the airport, which shows how much better the quality is than googles view.

Swampy.doc

Coupling it with the rstone (23-5-2007) photo of noise contours showing the now infamous NEF (noise exposure forecast) areas, I've found we are in the just about in the pink (NEF 40-45). Much better views can be zoomed into from Pointasia and the original rstone photo

This puts us in the frame for an 'uncontested' relocation payment of indeterminate amount from AOT - assuming they break from tradition, show some moral backbone and allow us to get away from what is now a shuddering pile of concrete, brick and glass. Well built though it is, I'm expecting to hear a tile slip off the roof at some stage. Dread hearing of another superjumbo marketing visit.

If the Pointasia tool for measuring accurate we are about 2.2 km from the end of the runway and just off centre.

Earlier this evening a full monty of engines and aviation fuel went overhead giving it as much throttle as I've experienced in a while. Not long after noise levels seemed to drop. So I'm guessing that the winds have changed as they do about now and we may get some respite as the landing patterns seem to follow suit.

However, I can't say I'm expecting any respite from the windbags at AOT anytime soon.

Any contact details of legal representatives or residents action groups around the airport would be gratefully received.

Magpie3.

Concern is inversely proportional to ones distance from the situation.

[magpie3]

Earlier this evening a full monty of engines and aviation fuel went overhead giving it as much throttle as I've experienced in a while. Not long after noise levels seemed to drop. So I'm guessing that the winds have changed as they do about now and we may get some respite as the landing patterns seem to follow suit.

Nope - got that wrong!

Changed about this time last year (if memory serves - not that it does these days). They may be messing with my head! Just 'cos I'm Paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.

magpie3

[magpie3]

Will miss this place if its ever sold.

Found a Turtle in the garden this morning.

Put it in the fountain bowl, but he climbed out and headed off - away from the airport. Can't blame it really.

For a brief moment I thought we could be Happy Together.

Magpie3

[Dakhar]

Wierd logic, buy a house near an airport and then complain about noise?!

[magpie3]

Wierd logic, buy a house near an airport and then complain about noise?!

Weird logic to assume that reading a snippit of information informs you of the facts

[magpie3]

Link below leads to Canadian site regarding recommended land use around airports. The page indicates maximum recommended Noise Exposure Forecast levels for domestic buildings, which will relate directly to the NEF areas outlined on the photo (thanks to rstone) that I posted recently.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/publicat...art4/Table3.htm

AOT are considering compensating domestic property owners in the NEF areas above 40 with some consideration possibly given to those properties in NEF areas above 35. This is at least one level above what would be deemed acceptable from these tables.

Anyone know who the residents campaign organiser is for the legal push against AOT?

[magpie3]

'AOT are considering compensating domestic property owners in the NEF areas above 40 with some consideration possibly given to those properties in NEF areas above 35.'

I should clarify - I mean in terms of outright purchase here - not soundproofing, which would be like placing an extra coat of paint on a biscuit tin to stop aircraft noise in my situation.

[Jai Dee]

AOT compensates 97 Suvarnabhumi residents for noise pollution

Managing Director of Airports of Thailand (AOT) Company Air Marshal Chana Yusathaporn (ชนะ อยู่สถาพร) presided over a ceremony yesterday to deliver compensational payments to the improvement of structures affected by noise pollution in the vicinity of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

97 land and building owners from the area were present for the ceremony representing 100 structures and buildings in the area that have had to suffer noise pollution in excess of 40 on the Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF). The total amount of compensation paid was approximately 22 million baht.

Air Marshal Chana avowed that AOT would expedite the compensation of many more cases of residents affected by Suvarnabhumi Airport’s noise level. He admitted however, that the company is being delayed by negotiations for payments.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 February 2008

[astral]

Sir

To you and all concerned .

18 years ago my wife and I spent 25000 GB pounds building a house on land worth approximately 17000 GB pounds. This was to house my mother-in-law(then 64 yrs old), a carer and ourselves when we visited. It was a great struggle to achieve this but nevertheless a good cause. Rumours then said there was to be an airport somewhere to the west of us, but that rumour had been passed around for 10 years or more by then. Since then the Baht has halved in value, my mother-in-law has been taken into permanent care with other members of the family and the property has been blighted by noise pollution making it un-sellable or at best undesirable at a ‘pre-airport’ market value.

The recent changes in flight paths and reduced frequency of flights has improved the noise situation marginally from when we arrived in December. However it is inevitable that this will get worse again as the airport grows and full use is achieved. It appears that compulsory/optional AOT purchase is not now going to happen (rumour) nor will compensation be given (another rumour) despite the fact that we are 500metres from one flight path.

We are told that it is unrealistic to expect any written communication from the authorities responsible and that I should approach them myself. We are now retired and need concrete information to plan our retirement.

Is there any person or official department that can be approached to give us an interview and perhaps even a written response for us to show to prospective buyers if we are able to sell?

Would be grateful for any direction you are able to give.

magpie3

Whilst I sympathise with your plight, I think you should ask yourself if you took adequate care when you purchased the land?

After all, the Airport construction plan was already being talked about 20+ years ago, before you made your purchase.

The '97 devaluation is a different matter, and a risk anyone takes when purchasing overseas.

If I may, I will quote my old maxim, "Never invest more in Thailand, than you are prepared to walk away from."

Sadly that is still true.

[magpie3]

Astral - Currency devaluations - we've even had that the UK - dissappointed but - s__t happens.

However, you seem to be saying that I should have been aware not only that an airport was to be built, but also that the standards employed for building it would not even approach 'reasonable'.

I don't know just how much you've looked into the issue.

I suggest noise exposure factors of 25 (or even 30) and above warrant complete evacuation from the vicinity for residential property owners - see Canadian standards link in previous posts - or don't bother if you (like many others) laugh at comparisons between Thai and Western standards.

My latest information - The Airport Authority + Government are purchasing property at NEF 40 and offering 'sound-proofing' to some others. Did your jaw drop reading that - because it really should have.

This is not all about 'ME' - I am just involved and part of the inconvenient rabble of residents, school children, and small businesses being worn down by a cynical group of 'Big Businessmen' who regularly pay lip service to the residents via the media. And the more they get away with the lower the standards they adopt when dealing with the issues. [Anyone see that article about Thai citizens being more tolerant to noise pollution than other countries? Can't remember where I saw it. ]

Regardless of air pollution (a very serious issue) noise levels above NEF25 prevent a 'normal life' regardless of soundproofing - you can't soundproof the street or garden.

The behaviour of those at the airport involved in the decision making processes amounts to an abuse of power.

They are ignoring the facts and their duty of care, even at the reduced level which Thais have been conditioned to accept.

Am I personally effected - yes

Am I annoyed - yes , but as much for others as myself. I can walk away, my 84 year old, bed ridden mother in law can not!

[mnbcm]

Anyone seen any maps of where the noise pollution is?

[tw25rw]

Engine noise is an important factor in aircraft design. Each generation of engine is quieter than the last, hence the A380 is substantially quieter than the current 747s. I remember when if a 707 went over, you stopped talking. Even more so with a Concorde. Personally, I like the sound and would be happy to live by an airport.