Sustainable Aviation and UK Policy

This assignment delves into the United Kingdom's approach to 'sustainable aviation,' analyzing how policy decisions intersect with the rhetoric of environmental responsibility. It specifically examines the issue of aircraft noise and its public health consequences, drawing upon academic studies on noise pollution and cardiovascular disease. The assignment also considers potential solutions like liquid hydrogen as a fuel source and multimodal transport hubs. It utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to understand public perceptions and impacts of aviation policy.

Relationship between
aircraft noise and
perceived cognitive
ability in and around
Heathrow airport

Table of Contents
Background of the study..............................................................................................................4
Aim..............................................................................................................................................4
Objectives....................................................................................................................................4
Research questions.......................................................................................................................4
Literature review..........................................................................................................................5
Methodology:...............................................................................................................................5
Time Frame..................................................................................................................................6
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................8

Title
To identify the relationship between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability of
children at years 6-7 in and around Heathrow airport.
Background of the study
In the modern era, the noise and pollution created by aircrafts has started to creates
several kinds of issues and problems for the people living in areas near airport (Janic, 2011). It
can be also stated that the night flights at Heathrow airport are causing several kinds of negative
impact on health and well being of people living in nearby areas (Hansell and et.al. 2013). As
compared to any other country in Europe, noise of aircraft and aviations is affecting people
living in Europe to a great extent (Münzel and et.al., 2014). The overall life quality of individuals
and families who are living closer to airport is affecting to a great extent. Along with the increase
in travel and tourisms within UK, the traffic at airports such as Heathrow has also increased. This
has resulted in increasing the total number of flights and raising the level of noise pollution
which is created (Rosenthal, 2010).
Aim
“To identify the relationship between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability of
children at years 6-7 years in and around Heathrow airport”.
Objectives
 To understand the concept of cognitive ability with respect to aircraft noise
 To determine the link between aircraft noise and cognitive ability of children at years 6-7
years
 To recommended ways through which people affecting from aircraft noise can deal with
health issues
Research questions
 What is the relationship between aircraft noise and cognitive ability?
 What is the noise impact on healthy and well being of children at age 6-7 years?
 What are the recommended ways through which people who affecting from aircraft noise
can deal with health issues
Literature review
Aircraft noise, sleep disturbance and health effect
As per the view of Givoni and Rietveld, (2010) the noise created at airport is creating
sleeping disturbances for people which are living in areas located near airports. The noise created

also causes several kinds of issues and harm to people in the form of different heart disease and
cardiovascular disease (Janic, 2010). However, a article published in newspaper the Guardian
clearly highlight that despite of claiming for quieter plans, people living near Heathrow airports
are suffering from very high noise pollution (Topham, 2015). The officials at airport clearly
stated that the new generations planes will be creating very less pollution but till today they have
not provided satisfactory results. It can be stated that the problem created by noise pollution is
affecting the life of people so much that now the pressure groups has forced government not to
permit construction of new airports until and unless they are sustainable (van Kempen and et.al.,
2012). The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of UK has also looking forward to take corrective
measures in the industry and lower down the negative effects of health of people living in nearby
areas (Becker and et.al., 2013). According to Griggs, (2013) the reason why people living near
Heathrow airport are more exposed to aircraft pollution is that the airport is located 13 miles
away west from London city. Furthermore, the area is surrounded by large number of suburban
housing and businesses. On contrary of this Xie, Kang and Tompsett, (2011) has argued that over
the past few years, the noise created by aircrafts is reduced and improved to great extent.
However, it can be asserted that the perception of people living in nearby areas is still the same
and still today they are forcing the entire aviation industry to take corrective measures for
tackling the noise generated and its negative impacts (Holzman, 2014). It can be also stated that
over the last few years there has been significant increase in the number of people getting aware
about the negative impact on their health and well being because of pollution created by aircraft.
The fact cannot be denied that majority of airports such as Heathrow are providing wide range of
benefits to countries such as UK. For example it has increased the total number of tourist or
travelers in the country and has supported the nation to obtain more foreign exchange. However,
has argued that if we look at negative side then it is very clear that Heathrow airport has emerged
as a very big threat for people living in nearby areas. It can be stated that especially the people
who are living under the flight paths are experiencing the negative impacts of airplanes
constantly. On the other side of this some people living in nearby areas stated that they are
experiencing the issue related to noise even after the plane has been take off.
The noise and sleep disturbance has direct relationship with each other. Furthermore sleep
disturbance are generally because of noise and this can be justified by both subjective and
objective kind of evidences. Any kind of increase in the rate of noise or the degree of noise

experienced by a person or child, directly results in rising the chances of fluctuations and
changes in the different stages of sleep. It is required by people working at airport authorities to
ensure that corrective measures are being taken in order to lower down the noise at airport.
Children especially which lies under the age group of 6-8 years arte more exposed to such kind
of threats. This is because noise pollution of exposure to noise of such level at frequent intervals
results in increasing the chances of heart rate and blood pressure even in adults (Noise Pollution.
2016 ). Noise of such level also results in different type of cardiovascular diseases among age 6-
8 years and this can direct impact their health and well being to a great extent in future. Another
shocking fact is that there are more than 460 schools running near Heathrow airport and life of
all the students out there is under great threat (Heathrow airport, 2016). The noise created by
aircrafts and airplanes directly results in impairing their memory and learning which is very
dangerous for their future life. It can be stated that the government of country, pressure groups
and airport authority needs to take some corrective measure as health and well being of children
cannot be compromised for any amount or volume of economic benefit.
Methodology:
Research design – In simpler terms research design can be termed as the overall strategy which
is adopted by researcher in order to attain the aim and objective of a study (Mackey and Gass,
2015). Furthermore, descriptive, exploratory, case study, experimental etc. are the different types
of designs used for conducting research (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015). Here, descriptive
research design will be selected to identify the relationship between aircraft noise and perceived
cognitive ability.
Research approach- The concept of research approach can be classified into two main
categories which are inductive and deductive (Brinkmann, 2014). Here. The scholar will adopt
inductive approach in order to satisfy the aim and objective of present research.
Research philosophy- It is an important aspect of research which is linked with the values and
beliefs of a researcher which supports in conducting a study in satisfactory manner (Silverman,
2016). It can be stated that interpretivism and positivism are the two major and most important
research philosophy which are being used by a researcher at the time of doing investigation on a
particular topic. For the purpose of conducting present research, interpretivism research
philosophy will be adopted. The rational behing this is that the selected research philosophy is
entirely depends on reality and therefore it will provide more accurate and reliable information

about the relationship between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability of children at years
6-7 years in and around Heathrow airport”.
Data collection- The process of data collection can be defined as the one which includes
selection of different appropriate sources which can be used to gather information about a a
particular topic. In term of source, it can be stated that primary and secondary are thw two major
sources of data collection which can be used during a study. The data collected from primary
sources is considered as more reliable and accurate as it is collected by the researcher
himself/herself. On the other hand, secondary sources render with the data or information which
has been already collected by someone else. In order to carry out study on identifying the
relationship between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability, both primary and secondary
sources of data collection will be considered. Here secondary information will be gathered from
books, online websites and journals whereas primary data will be collected with the help of
methods such as interview and survey. The reason behind making use of both sources of data
collection is that it will help the researcher in carrying out the present study in best possible
manner by providing with the adequate data required. Primary sources will assist in getting
reliable information whereas the secondary sources will help in getting insight into the work
carried out by other researchers or scholars.
Sampling - It can be defined as the process in which appropriate sample is selected from overall
population to conduct a research (Panneerselvam, 2014). It can be expressed that in order to
collect primary data, it is required by a researcher to determine appropriate sampling size and
technique. The use of suitable technique and sample size supports in getting more accurate and
desired information about the topic under investigation.
 Sampling method- For the purpose of carrying out research on indentifying the
relationship between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability of children at years 6-7
years in and around Heathrow airport” purposive sampling method which is a part of
non-probabilistic sampling method will be adopted.
 Population - In terms of population it can be stated that all the people living in the nearby
areas and under Heathrow airport is going to be the population for the present research
report.
 Sampling size- The data will be collected from parents and teachers living near Heathrow
airport and sample size will be 30. The rationale behind selection of purposive sampling

is that here the researcher will be approaching all respondents with an objective to collect
information on what kind of relationship exist between aircraft noise and perceived
ability of a children.
Data analysis- It can be defined as the process in which information collected is analyzed using
different tools to gain findings (Neuman and Robson, 2012). Furthermore, qualitative and
quantitative are the two major techniques which can be used for analyzing data (Flick, 2015).
Qualitative technique of data analysis is generally used in the studies in which numeric data is
present. On the other hand, researches with non numeric data mostly make use of quantitative
data analysis technique. For the purpose of conducting research on identify the relationship
between aircraft noise and perceived cognitive ability; the scholar will be using qualitative
technique of data analysis. Furthermore, the information will be presented through various
charts, tables and analysis of information collected will be done using thematic method of
analysis.
Time Frame
Activity/Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Formulating research proposal
Assessment of primary and secondary data
Developing research objectives
Determination of research approach
Drafting the research methodology
Development of the questionnaire
Collecting the primary data
Evaluation and analysis of the data
Interpretation of results
Submission to tutor and awaiting feedback

Revising the final draft
Submission

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Becker, M. and et.al., 2013. Awareness and learning in participatory noise sensing. PloS one,
8(12), p.e81638.
Brinkmann, S., 2014. Interview (pp. 1008-1010). Springer New York.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Givoni, M. and Rietveld, P., 2010. The environmental implications of airlines' choice of aircraft
size. Journal of Air Transport Management, 16(3), pp.159-167.
Griggs, S., 2013. The politics of airport expansion in the United Kingdom: Hegemony, policy
and the rhetoric of ‘sustainable aviation’.
Hansell, A.L. and et.al., 2013. Aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in
London: small area study.
Holzman, D.C., 2014. Fighting noise pollution: A public health strategy. Environmental health
perspectives, 122(2), p.A58.
Janic, M., 2010. Is liquid hydrogen a solution for mitigating air pollution by airports?.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 35(5), pp.2190-2202
Janic, M., 2011. Assessing some social and environmental effects of transforming an airport into
a real multimodal transport node. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and
Environment, 16(2), pp.137-149.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
Münzel, T., Gori, T., Babisch, W. and Basner, M., 2014. Cardiovascular effects of environmental
noise exposure. European heart journal, 35(13), pp.829-836.
Neuman, W.L. and Robson, K., 2012. Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative
approaches.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Rosenthal, E., 2010. Britain curbing airport growth to aid climate. The New York Times, 1.
Silverman, D. ed., 2016. Qualitative research. Sage.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research methods: A
guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
van Kempen, E. and et.al., 2012. Neurobehavioral effects of exposure to traffic-related air
pollution and transportation noise in primary schoolchildren. Environmental research, 115,
pp.18-25.
Walker, G., 2010. Environmental justice, impact assessment and the politics of knowledge: The
implications of assessing the social distribution of environmental outcomes. Environmental
Impact Assessment Review, 30(5), pp.312-318.
Xie, H., Kang, J. and Tompsett, R., 2011. The impacts of environmental noise on the academic
achievements of secondary school students in Greater London. Applied Ac
Online
Topham, G., 2015. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/23/areas-near-heathrow-suffer-more-noise-
despite-claims-of-quieter-planes >. [Accessed on 15th November 2016]

Heathrow airport. 2016 [Online]. Available through: <
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/heathrow-airport-aircraft-noise-could-
10721208>. [Accessed on 15th November 2016]
Noise Pollution. 2016 [Online]. Available through: < https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article-
lookup/doi/10.1093/bmb/ldg033>. [Accessed on 15th November 2016]