A runway success! Thousands of residents live in flight paths leading to Birmingham International Airport, and if anyone has the best knowledge of their concerns, it is environment manager Ben Hanley.PATRICE JOHN met the man who works to keep complaints to a minimum, yet allows residents to be heard.Byline: PATRICE JOHN Ben Hanley has a tough job on his hands. His tasks as leader of Birmingham Airport's Environment Team are to monitor air quality, tackle issues related to climate change as well as to handle those who complain about noise, but this is made a little easier by the cutting- edge technology used to resolve problems. "Noise has been the main concern for people living near to the airport but we try to find ways for the airport to operate," he says. "We use technology to monitor aircraft and the noise they produce. We also work with our industry partners NATS NATS National Air Traffic Services NATS National Association of Teachers of Singing NATS Naval Air Transport Service NATS National Aerospace Technology Strategy NATS Nissan Anti-Theft System NATS Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (the air traffic control) and other airlines to do whatever we can to minimise the noise impact." BIA BIA abbr. Bureau of Indian Affairs use ANOMS ANOMS Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System 8 technology as a noise and track keeping system which helps the team monitor performance of aircraft and investigate resident's complaints. Ben says much of his work is concentrated on good communication with the public in order to reduce the amount of complaints. He says: "We are very keen to be open and transparent about how we conduct our dealings and there is a website, environmental helpline helpline Noun a telephone line set aside for callers to contact an organization for help with a problem helpline n → teléfono de asistencia al público and Community Outreach Programme that aim to help people." The Community Outreach Programme involves roadshows across the city where residents can meet the Community and Environment Team, learn about the control system for monitoring noise and ask any questions. "It's a chance to show residents the computer system we use for monitoring and we've found that people do appreciate the personal approach. It is also a great forum for fostering good communication with residents." The team are able to monitor noise levels and complaints about noise through Operation Pathfinder pathfinder /path·find·er/ (path´find?er) 1. an instrument for locating urethral strictures. 2. a dental instrument for tracing the course of root canals. path·find·er n. , which was launched in 2006. The initiative is designed to engage with airlines operating at Birmingham on noise and track keeping.Meetings are held twice a year, while individual airlines are provided with monthly reports outlining their performance. There is also a Night Flying Policy which aircraft must adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. , or they are penalised. For further information on the work of BIA see www.bhx.co.uk CAPTION(S): FLYING HIGH... Ben Hanley, leader of Birmingham Airport's Environment Team. Picture: Emma Lee Emma Lee (born in Litchfield, UK, is a Television Presenter) who started television career in a competition for Channel Four. Emma is most famous for her presting role as presenter for Disney Channel (UK), for the Disney Channel Live segnments which later became Studio Disney. |
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