Young Eco- Enthusiasts take over Air Traffic Control to learn about green issues

The students are more used to seeing or hearing aircraft soar over their heads from the safety of their playground, but in air traffic control they were given the best seats in the house.  The students watched aircraft take off and land onto Newcastle’s runway and observed how the controllers manage the busy skies and play a key role in the management of noise pollution. 

The children are part of the Eco Action Team at Ponteland Middle School.  The trip to the control tower showed the students how environmental issues they have discussed in the classroom affect the running of an airport. 

Watching the radar screens and listening to pilots communicating with air traffic control gave the students a great insight into how the controllers monitor and control the impact of noise pollution on neighbouring areas, like their school. 

The controllers explained to the eager environmentalists how they plot the departure and arrival paths of each flight to keep noise disruption low and within strict government guidelines. 

Ponteland Middle School is one of five locations within the local vicinity of the airport which has a noise monitoring device situated within its grounds.  Newcastle International regularly checks the data from these devices as part of its comprehensive environmental management agenda.  The system provides real-time data on noise levels and records flight tracks to monitor aircraft activity.  

The students will soon be visited by Newcastle International’s environmental co-ordinator, Helen Hughes, to discuss further the airport’s commitment to environmental issues such as air quality, water management and noise pollution. 

Helen said: “Newcastle International is always keen to work with schools to teach young pupils how we’re committed to keeping the environment clean.  The recent visit from the Ponteland Middle School’s Eco Action Team provides an excellent opportunity to work together to manage the local environment.  It also gives the children an insight into how businesses manage their environmental impact. We hope that in the future these students can actually use and analyse the data from the noise monitors in class lessons.”

Martin Froggatt, the children’s teacher, said: “It was a great day out for these children, who have a keen interest in the environmental issues which surround their lives.  The day at air traffic control clearly taught the children about how Newcastle Airport tries to reduce their noise pollution as much as possible.  We are very much looking forward to the next visit from the environmental coordinator, and are excited about what else we’ll be taught!”

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For more information please contact:

Abby Randall
PR and Marketing Assistant
Newcastle International Airport Ltd
Tel: 0191 2143604
Mob: 07711405839
Email: arandall@Newcastleinternational.co.uk