Roberta Aguirre
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the world's busiest airports, located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands. As aircraft noise has become a problem for the surrounding cities, Schiphol has implemented several measures to reduce noise pollution and become a silent airport. On 4 May, the airport observes two minutes of silence to commemorate the victims of World War II and all subsequent wars. During this time, aircraft are not permitted to take off, taxi, or land, and staff on the runways and in the baggage department pause their work. Additionally, Schiphol has introduced an app feature that helps travellers find quiet spots within the airport, and they are also implementing acoustical landscaping in the form of large ridges to dampen longer noise wavelengths.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of silence | Once a year |
| Date | 4 May |
| Time | 20:00-20:02 |
| Duration | 2 minutes |
| Purpose | To commemorate the victims of the Second World War and all wars thereafter |
| Aircraft | No aircraft is given permission to take off, land, or taxi during the silence |
| Aircraft above 2 km | Must remain in motion |
| Staff | Stop work for two minutes |
| Taxis | Halted |
| Communications | Suspended between air traffic control and pilots |
| Announcements | Banned in the main waiting area |
| Crowd detection | Available on the Schiphol App |
| Crowd levels | Indicated by blue (quiet) and pink (busy) colours on the Schiphol App |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Schiphol is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands, and aircraft noise is an issue for surrounding cities
- Schiphol is one of the world's busiest airports, so innovative solutions are needed to moderate noise pollution
- On 4 May, Schiphol commemorates the victims of the Second World War and later wars with two minutes of silence
- Schiphol has a crowd detector feature on its app, allowing travellers to find a quiet spot in the airport
- Schiphol is implementing acoustical landscaping in the form of large ridges to dampen longer noise wavelengths
Schiphol is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands, and aircraft noise is an issue for surrounding cities
Schiphol Airport is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands. The airport is surrounded by extensively developed areas, including relatively large cities and agricultural zones. The noise produced by the airport is an issue for several thousand people in the surrounding Haarlemmermeer Municipality, especially in its main town, Hoofddorp. The low-frequency ground noise created at take-off is particularly challenging to mitigate, as standard noise barriers are largely ineffective against it.
To address this issue, Schiphol has implemented several measures to reduce noise pollution. One approach is acoustical landscaping, where large ridges are constructed to dampen longer sound wavelengths. Schiphol also engages with various organisations to develop innovative solutions. For example, they collaborated with the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the city of Hoofddorp, and Stichting Mainport en Groen, a foundation that manages the land around the airport and focuses on creating recreational facilities. This collective effort aims to find creative ways to reduce noise pollution while promoting green spaces in the area.
Additionally, Schiphol has introduced a "silent airport" concept, joining a growing global trend. This initiative involves reducing background noise in terminals by minimising announcements except in emergencies, lost or found children, and some flight delays. The goal is to create a calmer and more relaxed atmosphere for travellers while still providing essential information. Schiphol also developed a mobile app that helps travellers find quieter areas within the airport, enhancing their overall airport experience.
Furthermore, Schiphol observes a unique tradition in the Netherlands of commemorating the victims of the Second World War and subsequent conflicts. On 4 May, between 19:50 and 20:02, all aircraft activity is halted, including take-off, taxiing, and landing. During this period, staff across the airport, including those on runways, in the baggage department, and at check-in desks, pause their work to join the two minutes of silence. This temporary cessation of air traffic ensures that the surrounding communities can participate in this solemn moment without disturbance from aircraft noise.
Hartsfield-Jackson: World's Busiest Airport?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Schiphol is one of the world's busiest airports, so innovative solutions are needed to moderate noise pollution
Schiphol Airport is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands, and aircraft noise is a problem in the surrounding cities. As one of the world's busiest airports, innovative solutions are required to moderate noise pollution in the area surrounding the runways.
The airport has implemented several measures to reduce noise, including a temporary halt in air traffic once a year on 4 May. During this two-minute silence, no aircraft are given permission to take off, and those that have not yet landed must postpone their final approach until after the silence. In addition, aircraft are kept above 2 kilometres during the silence to minimise noise. Schiphol also instructs aircraft to hold short of runways during this period and stops taxiing traffic.
To further reduce noise pollution, Schiphol has introduced a crowd detector feature on its mobile app, allowing travellers to find quiet spots in the airport. The app uses colour-coding to indicate crowd levels, with blue locations being calmer and pink ones busier. This helps travellers maintain social distancing and find a place to relax before their flight.
In addition to these measures, Schiphol is implementing acoustical landscaping in the form of large ridges that dampen longer wavelengths to combat low-frequency ground noise created at take-off, which is difficult to mitigate with standard noise barriers.
By adopting these innovative solutions, Schiphol Airport strives to balance its position as one of the world's busiest airports with the need to moderate noise pollution for the surrounding communities.
SFO's Airport Hotel: A Convenient Layover Option
You may want to see also
Explore related products
On 4 May, Schiphol commemorates the victims of the Second World War and later wars with two minutes of silence
On 4 May, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, commemorates the victims of the Second World War and later wars with two minutes of silence. This is a poignant and important tradition in the Netherlands. During this time, aircraft are not given permission to take off, and those that have not yet landed must wait until after the silence. In addition, taxiing traffic is brought to a halt, and communications between air traffic control and pilots are suspended. Staff on the runways, in the baggage department, and at check-in desks, security lanes, and passport controls will also stop work for two minutes. Radios in retail and catering outlets are switched off, and the Dutch national anthem is played after the silence.
The airport is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the country, and aircraft noise is a significant problem in the surrounding cities. Schiphol is implementing acoustical landscaping in the form of large ridges to dampen longer noise wavelengths. However, the two minutes of silence each year is not the only measure the airport takes to combat noise pollution. Schiphol has also added a new feature to the Schiphol App, which helps travellers find quiet spots in the airport.
The global silent airport trend is growing, with airports all across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia adjusting their announcement policies to make airport travel less stressful and disruptive. Airports that have gone silent include Helsinki Airport in Finland, Dubai International Airport, and London City Airport in the UK.
At silent airports, announcements are banned in the main waiting area, and passengers only hear important announcements at their gate. This means passengers must be vigilant of their flight times. However, silence offers opportunities for self-reflection and daydreaming, which can help to lower blood pressure.
Venice Airport Shopping: What to Buy Before Your Flight
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Schiphol has a crowd detector feature on its app, allowing travellers to find a quiet spot in the airport
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is one of the many airports around the world that have embraced the silent airport trend. In a bid to make the travelling experience more tranquil and relaxing for passengers, Schiphol has cut down on the number of announcements and background noise in terminals. The airport also observes two minutes of silence every year on May 4 at 20:00 to commemorate the victims of World War II and all wars thereafter. During this time, aircraft are kept above 2 kilometres to minimise noise, and no planes are given permission to take off.
To further enhance the airport experience, Schiphol has introduced a crowd detector feature on its app. This feature allows travellers to find quiet spots in the airport, helping them to maintain social distancing and relax before their flights. The map on the Schiphol App uses colours to indicate crowd levels after security, with blue locations being calmer and pink ones busier. Areas that are not coloured are very quiet. The crowd detector is particularly useful for travellers who have already passed through security, as this is the area of the airport where travellers tend to spend the most time.
The crowd detection feature also complements existing COVID regulations such as social distancing, hand washing, and wearing face masks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schiphol used various methods to track the flow of visitors and manage crowds, including people counters and WiFi and Bluetooth tracking. The crowd detector feature on the Schiphol App provides travellers with real-time information about crowd levels, enabling them to find quieter areas and maintain a safe distance from others.
By offering a quiet and stress-free environment, Schiphol Airport aims to improve the overall travel experience for its passengers. The combination of silent airport policies and innovative crowd detection technology demonstrates Schiphol's commitment to creating a peaceful and efficient space for travellers. This approach not only benefits travellers but also contributes to a more relaxed and calm atmosphere within the airport.
Hummus and Airport Security: What's Allowed?
You may want to see also
Schiphol is implementing acoustical landscaping in the form of large ridges to dampen longer noise wavelengths
Schiphol Airport is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands, and aircraft noise is a problem in the surrounding cities. Low-frequency ground noise created at take-off is especially difficult to combat because standard noise barriers are largely ineffective against it. To address this issue, Schiphol is implementing acoustical landscaping in the form of large ridges to dampen longer noise wavelengths.
This innovative project, called Thresholds of Silence, involves transforming the long, sterile stretches of the ridges into a playfully convoluted landscape. The new project has been named Buitenschot Landscape Art Park, A Soundscape for Schiphol-Hoofddorp. The project aims to reduce the noise pollution produced by the airport, which has been a problem for the several thousand people in the Haarlemmermeer Municipality, especially in its main town, Hoofddorp.
The idea for this project stemmed from the observation that innovative solutions are necessary to moderate noise pollution in the area surrounding the runways. A collective effort was made by a number of organisations to realise this innovative project in Haarlemmermeer. The group included Schiphol Airport itself, the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the city of Hoofddorp, and Stichting Mainport en Groen, a foundation that manages the land around Schiphol and creates recreational facilities in the area.
The group engaged the research institute TNO Delft to conduct a preliminary technical study of the effect of plough furrows on noise levels. By working from historical maps, the project draws inspiration from nature to rediscover the original contours of the land. The natural forces, guided by the laws of nature, create beautiful patterns in the landscape, such as the ripples left behind on the beach by the wind and waves.
Through this project, Schiphol Airport aims to reduce the impact of ground-level noise on the surrounding communities and provide a more peaceful environment for those living nearby.
E-Cigarettes: Airports' Rules and Regulations Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Schiphol is a silent airport because it is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the Netherlands, and aircraft noise is a problem in the surrounding cities. To reduce noise pollution, Schiphol has implemented several measures, including acoustical landscaping and reducing airport-wide announcements.
The impact of Schiphol being a silent airport is that it reduces noise pollution for the surrounding communities and creates a more calm and relaxed ambiance for travellers. Additionally, silence can offer opportunities for self-reflection and daydreaming, which can help lower blood pressure.
Schiphol falls silent once a year on May 4th between 19:50 and 20:03 to commemorate the Dutch victims of World War II and later war situations. During this time, aircraft are not given permission to start their engines, taxi, or land, and staff on the runways, aprons, and in the baggage department stop work for two minutes.
