The Brussels Court of Appeal has rejected an environmental objection raised by the Flemish region and local municipalities against the new take-off procedures at Brussels Airport, implemented in October 2023. The procedures involve a satellite-guided navigation system, replacing the traditional fixed-point navigation.
Flanders had contested the changes, arguing that they shifted noise and environmental disruption from Brussels to Flemish municipalities such as Grimbergen, Meise, and Wemmel, particularly with routes affecting the Brussels ring road during night-time flights.
Although initially upheld by the Brussels Court of First Instance in February, the appeal court ruled that no evidence was presented proving that the new procedures caused additional health or noise concerns.
The Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the new take-off procedures at Brussels Airport is a significant development in the ongoing debate over aviation noise and environmental impact. While the Flemish region raised valid concerns about the potential shift of noise pollution to nearby municipalities, the lack of evidence linking the new procedures to increased health or noise issues is noteworthy. This ruling highlights the complexities of balancing airport operations with community concerns, and it will be interesting to see how this impacts future discussions on aviation regulations and environmental policies.
The Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the new take-off procedures at Brussels Airport marks a key moment in the ongoing debate over aviation noise and environmental impact. Although the Flemish region raised valid concerns about the potential redistribution of noise pollution to surrounding municipalities, the absence of conclusive evidence linking the new procedures to increased health or noise problems is significant. This ruling underscores the complexities of balancing airport operations with community concerns, and it will be interesting to see how it influences future discussions on aviation regulations and environmental policies.