Noise-control consultancy services

Tender description

Airport Noise Consultancy Services. On 22.9.2016, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport announced details of the manner in which EU Regulation 598/2014 is to be implemented in Ireland, including the designation of the IAA, by way of a Statutory Instrument, as the independent competent authority to oversee the delivery of the new approach to airport noise management with the requisite powers to implement the Regulation in Ireland. It is envisaged that the designation of the IAA as Competent Authority to implement EU Regulation 598/2014 will be completed by the end of this year and that the independent and functionally separate noise regulatory unit within the IAA will be in place early in 2017. Under this designation, the IAA will be responsible for issuing airport noise determinations (including operating restrictions) and is being given statutory responsibilities in relation to environmental planning procedures within Ireland. In preparation for the IAA's designation to oversee the delivery of the new, more prescriptive approach to airport noise management, and to supplement the IAA's considerable expertise in the field of aviation (including flight operations, pilot skills, air traffic control operations, regulatory procedures, aerodromes, aircraft technology, etc.), the IAA is seeking Airport Noise Expert consultancy services to support the IAA's independent Aviation & Airport Noise Regulatory Unit in making its determination on noise and operating procedures at Dublin Airport. The determination must be based on the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management, which requires the IAA to consider the noise mitigation contributions from four key components: (i) Reduction of noise at source from quieter, more modern aircraft; (ii) Land-use planning and management measures such as zoning and insulation; (iii) Noise abatement operational procedures such as using runways alternately or gradual take off and departure flight procedures with reduced throttle thrust; and (iv) Operating restrictions at airports such as a cap on aircraft movements or curfews. It is envisaged that the service provider will be a subject matter expert in Airport Noise and in the application of the ICAO Balanced Approach to Noise.