New opportunities for aircraft noise policy in the Netherlands

This papers aims (1) to provide a review of the (non-acoustic) social-psychological determinants of aircraft noise annoyance, (2) evaluate Schiphol's noise policy from a social-psychological perspective and (3) review a governance model that can effectively address non-acoustic factors in aircraft noise policy. It is concluded that the insights in the psychology of noise annoyance inform us that local actors in the relationship ‘airport-environment’ should have the means to adjust to each other's presence. However, presently aggregated claims (e.g. average energy-equivalent noise norms), which are ineffective in representing and regulating the social conflict between the airport and its environment, have become dominant in aircraft noise policy. Resultants of this policy are polarization, deficient local control, distrust and noise annoyance. The paper concludes with a review of a previously developed governance model, in which local actors are given room to formulate specific individual preferences and establish transactions between them. This model aims to enhance local control and provide a context of mutual trust in the relationship ‘airport-environment’. Within this context aircraft noise may not necessarily be reduced, but can become much less annoying.