Minimising noise and air quality emissions to the environment
To protect the environment, we seek to ensure aircraft engines operate with the minimum power necessary and for as short a time as possible.
This relates to:
Departure: from time of engine start-up, during taxiing and any holding time, up to time of departure
Arrival: from the time an aircraft has reduced to taxiing speed on runway, or turns off runway, to the time it switches off engines on a stand
The airport has set specific limits for engine run on stand and taxi time on both arrival and departure.
Use of aircraft onboard auxiliary power units (APUs)
For various reasons, aircraft occasionally need to use their onboard APUs instead of portable ground power units or the airport’s fixed electrical power. This is usually to condition the aircraft cabin when temperatures become uncomfortable, as fixed electrical power cannot be used for this. In such cases, we aim to minimise the APU running time.
Power sources at LCY
The airport has fixed electrical ground power (FEGP) at Stands 1 to 10 and 15. All stands without FEGP are serviced using battery-powered/Electric Mobile Ground Power Units (EMGPU). We no longer use diesel units, which has led to positive impacts on noise and local air quality.