HE Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), said that the PACA is continuing to find short and long-term solutions to address the noise caused by the airplanes which use northern terminal of Muscat International Airport. These procedures are sated in order to ensure that the civil aviation sector in Oman is up to date with the latest technologies and developments that ensure a safe, efficient and effective aviation environment. The actual application of noise-reducing operating procedures at Muscat International Airport is one of the most important long-term solutions to handle noise. In addition, it is a very important and advanced step in the civil aviation sector in the Sultanate and also contributes to the protection of the environment from sound pollution.

He explained that the PACA has started the actual application of low noise operating procedures at Muscat International Airport on October 11 of this year. These safe and effective procedures aim to reduce noise caused by aircraft traffic at Muscat International Airport. It is divided into three types: takeoff procedures, special procedures for approaching and landing aircraft from Muscat International Airport, and noise control procedures from testing the engine on the airport ground.

The take-off procedures at Muscat International Airport aim to achieve minimum noise over sensitive and populated areas near the end of the runway which is used for takeoff and in the vicinity of the takeoff route. This type of procedure involves requiring all aircraft to follow the operational standards of each aircraft in such a way as to ensure that the aircraft reaches an altitude of 3,000 feet above the airport as soon as possible after take-off and compels airlines turbines to also follow procedures of reducing noise from their engines.

The second type of noise reduction procedures is related t to the approach and landing at Muscat International Airport. This procedure is designed to reduce the noise caused by the movement of aircraft coming to Muscat International Airport following the requirements of the Aviation Operations Manual to meet noise reduction requirements. It involves forcing pilots applying visual landing procedures to continue to fly in the appropriate direction to the runway at a height of at least 1500 feet until the final stage of approaching the runway is reached. The pilots also are forced to drop off at night Reversing or reverse-drive devices that result in high noise except for technical or safety reasons. Compliance with noise reduction procedures can be waived in limited circumstances to meet aviation and air traffic safety requirements at Muscat International Airport.

The third type is the noise control procedures of the aeronautical engine test, which generates noise pollution and being a source of the disturbance. These procedures aim to reduce the noise of aviation and to prevent din from testing engines in areas not intended for that. These procedures also include the allocation of a specific site to operate the engines testing within a period not exceeding 5 minutes or with higher power than those used in normal operating and moving conditions at the Muscat International Airport. Among the procedures is the approval from the air traffic control tower, besides moving the aircraft to the site dedicated to this kind of tests.