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Noise management

The Aeronautical Noise Management Program at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport was developed in conjunction with our partners in the aviation sector and various levels of government. The program aims to manage the impact of noise on surrounding residential areas while protecting the 24-hour operation of the airport.

Measuring the success of our Noise Management Program

The percentage of noise reports to aircraft movements since 1994 trends below 0.25% for the last 20 years and continues to improve.

Understanding airport noise

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport isn't responsible for setting flight paths or flying planes, but we are responsible for communicating with the public about noise from aircraft that take off and land at the airport. We're also responsible for minimizing noise impacts from airport development activities. Here are some factors that affect aircraft noise at YWG:

  • Construction may influence the frequency of aircraft movements on runways. Like city streets, our runways require preventative maintenance and improvement. Runway maintenance is temporary and could require one runway to be used more often or differently than normal.
  • Atmospheric conditions such as temperature, wind, humidity, rain, and cloud cover impact the way you experience aircraft noise. In certain atmospheric conditions, you may notice more sound than normal.
  • For safety reasons, aircraft usually need to land and depart in the same direction as the wind. That means an 'into-the-wind' runway direction is almost always adopted for landings and takeoffs.
  • Modern aircrafts are generally quieter than older aircrafts. Many airlines are updating their fleets to phase out older aircraft over time.

Noise monitoring

Noise Monitoring Program

As part of Winnipeg Airports Authority's Aeronautical Noise Management Program, we monitor the effectiveness of existing noise abatement procedures and identify aircraft operations that are not in compliance.

Reporting airport noise

Contact our 24-Hour Noise Line at 204-987-9403 for questions, comments, or information regarding noise levels at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.

Our flight tracking system

By tracking arriving and departing aircraft, we can identify aircraft associated with noise disturbances or those that may not be operating in compliance with established procedures. WAA forwards any identified deviations from the procedures to Transport Canada for investigation.

Noise abatement

Regulations governing aircraft noise

The Federal Minister of Transport is responsible for setting aircraft noise regulations in Canada.

Noise abatement procedures

Noise abatement procedures are in-flight operations designed to minimize noise disturbances to residential areas along flight paths as well as areas close to the airport. The NAPs are a result of consultation between the airport, Nav Canada, Transport Canada, the airlines, and the local community.

The NAPs in place at YWG are consistent with those for other international airports across the country but are specific to the pattern of land use around the airport, the runway layout, and the wind conditions, which influence safe aircraft arrivals and departures.

Night-time restrictions

Night-time operating restrictions include:

Runway use

  • Preferential runway use is in affect from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Air traffic controllers attempt to divert night-time departures and arrivals away from residential areas, unless conditions such as wind and weather systems are a factor.

Departure procedures

  • Jet aircraft can't depart south or southwest from a mid-way point on the runway. This means aircraft achieve a higher altitude by the time they are flying over residential areas.

Flight training

  • Prior approval is required for local flight training from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. to ensure only activities requiring darkness are permitted. These flights must also comply with arrival, departure, and noise abatement procedures set out in the Canada Air Pilot.

Maintenance engine run-ups

  • Run-ups test aircraft functionality after maintenance or repairs. WAA manages a run-up procedure to minimize the impact they may have on the surrounding community.

Reverse thrust

  • Reverse thrust is not permitted unless required for the safety of the aircraft.

Powerback operations

  • Aircraft are not permitted to powerback.

Attenuation wall

An attenuation wall was constructed to reduce the impact of noise from Apron 4 operations on the southeast side of the airfield.

Noise mitigation

We aim to reduce or minimize noise disturbances through management efforts such as land use planning, municipal bylaws, and other cooperative efforts with local bodies.

Airport Vicinity Protection Area

The Province of Manitoba established The Airport Vicinity Protection Area Regulation 66/2021 under The City of Winnipeg Charter. The AVPA defines land uses and development restrictions in areas surrounding the airport and along designated flight paths in an effort to reduce residential exposure to aircraft noise.

Winnipeg was one of the first Canadian cities to adopt a land use plan of this nature.

Aircraft movement reports

Year

Total noise reports

Total aircraft movements

Reports per 1,000 movements

1994

330

154,868

2.10

1995

340

156,002

2.20

1996

223

155,065

1.40

1997

206

155,193

1.30

1998

193

150,085

1.30

1999

176

156,527

1.10

2000

204

156,029

1.30

2001

195

152,950

1.27

2002

258

155,912

1.60

2003

354

152,086

2.30

2004

193

140,403

1.40

2005

240

137,787

1.74

2006

362

144,641

2.50

2007

158

151,793

1.00

2008

171

138,911

1.20

2009

102

128,594

0.79

2010

101

117,435

0.86

2011

149

119,452

1.25

2012

95

115,730

0.82

2013

96

112,003

0.86

2014

324

111,340

2.91

2015

109

118,075

0.92

2016

46

116,738

0.39

2017

44

114,216

0.39

2018

24

113,226

0.21

2019

35

106,976

0.33

2020

49

66,903

0.73

2021

52

73,012

0.71

2022

65

90,588

0.72