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2014 Compact

Measuring the influence of flight noise On behalf of Gemeinnützige Umwelthaus GmbH (UNH) in Kelsterbach, a subsidiary of the Federal State of Hesse, experts have been investigating the effects of traffic noise since April 2011. The NORAH (Noise-Related Annoyance, Cognition, and Health) study is financed by the Federal State of Hesse, local communities, Deutsche Lufthansa, UNH, and Fraport AG. As part of the third module, the impact of aircraft noise on the reading abilities of children was de- termined – independent from other factors such as the socio-economic status of parents or quality of education. This study found that aircraft noise has a low but discernible influence on reading performance, which is nonetheless within the national average. A direct effect of aircraft noise on abilities prior to reading, such as listening comprehension, was not found. Overall, children and parents assess the health-related quality of life and well-being in the region as very high. The study found that children in all of the locations investigated feel well, are healthy, and are happy to go to school. This also applies for children in areas with comparatively high aircraft noise. However, teachers stated that aircraft noise does affect classes. Over a third of children at such schools sometimes have difficulty understanding their teachers. The study did not consider the fact that Fraport has been further developing and expanding active and passive noise abatement in conjunction with its partners since the data was collected in 2012. The new knowledge obtained from the NORAH study is now being used to narrow the focus of the various measures even further. Further information can be found online at www.fraport.com/sustainability under “Aircraft noise abatement”. One problem – many solutions Who is offended by aircraft operations com- plains about aircraft noise. Each day, around 7,250 complaints are received as part of Fraport’s neighbor dialog. 95 % of these are automatically generated verification requests, i.e. they are automatically sent online by a piece of software. The rest is sent personally – usually via email. Fraport deals with each individual message and also investigates con- spicuous flights on its own initiative. All ques- tionable aircraft movements are compared with the values from noise measurement points and with flight plan depictions from German Air Navigation Services (DFS), where required. Should prescribed flight routes not be complied with, for example, we pass on the information to the aircraft noise protection officer of the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, and Regional Development (HMWEVL). Route precision and altitude are also verified here. In addition, it is determined whether noise-reducing takeoff and landing approaches at Frankfurt Airport have been complied with. If the pilot has acted incor- rectly, DFS applies for summary proceedings at the Federal Aviation Office. The employees on the noise abatement team handle queries regarding passive noise abate- ment. The goal of this is reducing the noise level within buildings by means of structural measures. Fraport has comprehensive statu- tory obligations for some 86,000 households at the Frankfurt site. These are located in a specific noise abatement area, giving them a defined entitlement to submit claims for passive noise abatement measures, which has been determined by Hesse State Government in accordance with the most stringent noise abatement regulations. We comply with the full scope of these claims. Furthermore, we have joined with the Hesse State Government in setting up a Regional Fund that provides between €265 million and €270 million to finance further measures. A consequence of the expansion of Frankfurt Airport by Runway Northwest is the introduc- tion of additional takeoff and landing routes. Owners who bought or constructed a prop- erty before the zoning decision and whose house or apartment lies within the approach flight path of the new landing runway are particularly affected by this. Fraport has there- fore launched the Casa program and offered compensation payments to the owners of resi- dential properties in Raunheim that are on the flight path of particularly low-altitude flyovers (i.e. less than 350 meters). Fraport also offered to buy residential properties in certain areas 2014 Compact40 Responsible Corporate Management

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