DEMAND THEY REVERSE THIS — SIGN THE PETITION

WANT TO HEAR AN AIRPLANE OVERHEAD EVERY 2 MINUTES?

THIS IS HAPPENING NOW.

NOISE HURTS

Aircraft noise has documented effects on health, sleep, and cognitive development. Here's how NavCanada's flight path changes are directly affecting you and your family right now.

HOW NOISE CAUSES DISEASE

The biological pathway is well-established in European research

1

Chronic Noise Exposure

Aircraft overhead every 4.5 minutes, day and night, at 55-70 dB

2

Stress Hormone Release

Your body releases cortisol and adrenaline — even while you sleep

3

Chronic Inflammation

Sustained stress hormones cause systemic inflammation and arterial damage

4

Serious Disease

Heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, depression, cognitive impairment

This pathway is documented by the WHO, the European Environment Agency, and confirmed by the NORAH, HYENA, and Swiss National Cohort studies.

WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines (2018) EEA Environmental Noise in Europe (2020) Münzel et al., Eur Heart J (2017)

THE IMPACTS YOU'LL FACE

1

Your Sleep Is Being Destroyed

Frequent aircraft noise wakes you throughout the night, preventing deep sleep and causing chronic sleep deprivation.

2

Your Children Are Falling Behind

There are many schools directly under the flight path. Chronic noise impairs reading comprehension and long-term memory.

3

You Now Have to Disclose Flight Path Proximity

When you sell your home, you are required to disclose proximity to flight paths, affecting resale value.

4

You Hear a Flight Every 2 Minutes or Less

YVR had 297,350 aircraft movements in 2025 — 148,675 landings for the year. That is 407 landings per day, 17 per hour, one every 3.5 minutes on average, and every 2 minutes or less during peak hours.

5

Older Planes Are Much Louder

Most aircraft use older engines. They are significantly louder than the numbers stated in NavCanada's projections.

6

Air Pollution Has Increased Significantly

Burnt jet fuel particulate matter has increased substantially in your area, affecting air quality and respiratory health.

7

Pilots Have Broad Discretion

Flight paths shown in the proposal are approximate. Pilots can legally fly in areas not shown on the official maps.

8

Noise Models Don't Account for Elevation

Noise modelling is based on sea level. Planes will be louder in higher elevation areas than the models predict.

How Loud Is It Really?

Compare before and current noise levels

Today
40 dB
Quiet neighborhood, peaceful
Now
55-70 dB
Loud conversation, busy traffic

Reference Sound Levels

  • 30 dB - Whisper, quiet library
  • 40 dB - Quiet neighbourhood
  • 50 dB - Normal conversation
  • 60 dB - Busy traffic, vacuum cleaner
  • 70 dB - Loud conversation, heavy traffic
  • 80 dB - Loud alarm clock, heavy machinery
  • 90 dB - Motorcycle, chainsaw

Measure It Yourself

Download a sound meter app to understand what these levels actually sound like:

Apple: NIOSH Sound Level Meter Android: Phyphox (RWTH Aachen University) Noise Measurement Guide

THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR

61%
Higher Heart Disease Risk in Men (80% in Women)

The German Cologne-Bonn Airport study of more than one million insured residents found aircraft noise at 60 dB(A) increased coronary heart disease by 61% in men and 80% in women. Nighttime noise had an even stronger effect. Our neighbourhoods now regularly exceed 60 dB(A).

Source: Greiser et al. (Journal of Public Health, 2007)
2 Months
Reading Delay Per Year

The RANCH study across 3 countries (UK, Netherlands, Spain) followed 2,844 children aged 9-10 near major airports. Every 5 dB increase in aircraft noise cost children measurable reading-comprehension progress. Multiple Tri-Cities schools sit directly under these flight paths.

Source: Stansfeld et al., The Lancet (RANCH Study, 2005)
900,000
Hypertension Cases Annually in Europe

The WHO calculates environmental noise across Europe — with aircraft as a major contributor — drives over 900,000 new cases of hypertension and tens of thousands of hospital admissions each year.

Source: WHO Burden of Disease from Environmental Noise (2011)
44%
Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Death at Night

A Swiss study of 24,886 cardiovascular deaths found nighttime aircraft noise increased cardiovascular mortality by 44%. The effect was strongest for heart attacks and arrhythmia — your body reacts to noise even while asleep.

Source: European Heart Journal (Swiss Cohort)
14%
Higher Hypertension Risk Per 10 dB

The HYENA study across 6 European countries found a 10 dB increase in nighttime aircraft noise raised hypertension risk by 14%. In men, the effect was even stronger — up to 54% in the highest exposure areas.

Source: HYENA Study (Environmental Health Perspectives)
24%
Higher Stroke Risk Near Heathrow

A BMJ study of 3.6 million residents near London Heathrow found stroke hospital admissions were 24% higher in the noisiest areas. Coronary heart disease admissions were 21% higher. A clear dose-response relationship.

Source: BMJ (Heathrow Study)
8.9%
More Depression Per 10 dB of Aircraft Noise

Germany's landmark NORAH study — the largest aircraft noise health study ever conducted — found depression risk rose 8.9% for every 10 dB increase in aircraft noise. Aircraft noise had a stronger effect on depression than road or rail noise.

Source: NORAH Study / PLOS ONE
0.6-1%
Property value loss per decibel of aircraft noise

A 2025 MIT/NBER study ("Planes Overhead") of US airport neighbourhoods found a one-decibel increase in annual day-night average aircraft noise reduces house prices by 0.6 to 1 percent. With 20-30 dB increases over baseline, homeowners under these flight paths face potential property value losses of 12-30%. When you sell, you must disclose proximity to the flight path.

Source: Allroggen et al., NBER Working Paper 34431 (2025)

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS AT RISK

Aircraft noise doesn't just damage your body — it damages your mind

⚠

Depression

The NORAH study found aircraft noise drives the highest depression risk of any transportation noise source — 8.9% more depression per 10 dB increase. Our communities now live with 15-30 dB increases over baseline.

⚠

Anxiety and Chronic Stress

Constant noise triggers a sustained fight-or-flight response. Your body cannot adapt — cortisol levels remain elevated, leading to chronic anxiety, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

⚠

High Annoyance as a Health Outcome

The WHO recognizes "high annoyance" from aircraft noise as a clinical health outcome — not a nuisance, but a measurable predictor of cardiovascular disease and mental health decline.

⚠

Quality of Life Destruction

You can't enjoy your backyard. You can't sleep with windows open. Conversations are interrupted every few minutes. This isn't a minor inconvenience — it's a fundamental degradation of daily life.

OUR CHILDREN ARE PAYING THE PRICE

The Evidence From Europe's Largest Studies

Two landmark European studies — the RANCH study (3 countries) and the NORAH study (Germany) — have documented what aircraft noise does to children's development:

Reading comprehension: Every 5 dB increase in aircraft noise costs children up to 2 months of reading progress per year. Multiple schools sit directly under these flight paths.
Long-term memory: Children in high aircraft noise zones show measurable impairment in long-term memory formation — the foundation of learning.
Stress hormones: Children near airports show elevated cortisol levels. Their bodies are in a constant low-grade stress response during school hours.
Concentration: The NORAH study confirmed that aircraft noise significantly impairs children's ability to sustain attention — affecting every subject, every day.
Source: RANCH Study Source: NORAH Children's Module

Air Pollution: Ultrafine Particles in Your Lungs

It's not just noise. Aircraft engines produce ultrafine particles (UFPs) — particles so small they penetrate deep into lung tissue and cross into your bloodstream.

Children's respiratory health: A 2024 Dutch study near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport found aviation UFPs increased wheezing by 14% and bronchodilator use by 13% in children living under flight paths.
Heart and lung function: Adults near Schiphol showed measurable reductions in lung function and changes in heart function from short-term UFP exposure.
Long-term mortality: Long-term exposure to aviation UFPs was associated with increased heart disease medication use and higher mortality from arrhythmia.
Additional pollutants: Jet engines also produce CO₂, NOx, CO, SOx, and soot. These pollutants fall directly on homes, schools, and parks in our communities.
Source: Schiphol UFP Study (2024) Source: Dutch RIVM Source: Environmental Health Journal

What Science Says

Peer-reviewed research confirms the health impacts of aircraft noise:

WHO Guidelines on Environmental Noise

World Health Organization recommendations for aircraft noise exposure and health protection.

Noise Adverse Effects (PubMed)

Comprehensive research on adverse health effects from aircraft noise exposure.

Noise and Health in Urban Environment

Studies on cognitive impairment, blood pressure increases, and reading comprehension in children.

Every statistic on this page, cited

  1. Flight frequency (297,350 YVR movements, 407 landings/day, every 2 min peak): Vancouver Airport Authority 2025 statistics. yvr.ca
  2. WHO 45 dB(A) nighttime guideline & health-risk pathway: WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region (2018). Read guidelines
  3. 61% / 80% higher heart disease risk (German Cologne-Bonn Airport study): Greiser E, Greiser C, Janhsen K (2007), "Night-time aircraft noise increases prevalence of prescriptions of antihypertensive and cardiovascular drugs," Journal of Public Health 15:327-337. Read study
  4. 2 months reading delay (RANCH study): Stansfeld et al. (2005), "Aircraft and road traffic noise and children's cognition and health: a cross-national study," The Lancet 365:1942-1949. Read study
  5. 900,000 hypertension cases / hospital admissions in Europe: WHO Regional Office for Europe (2011), "Burden of disease from environmental noise." Read report
  6. 44% higher cardiovascular mortality at night (Swiss Cohort): Saucy et al. (2021), "Does night-time aircraft noise trigger mortality? A case-crossover study on 24,886 cardiovascular deaths," European Heart Journal 42:835-843. Read study
  7. 14% higher hypertension per 10 dB (HYENA study): Jarup et al. (2008), "Hypertension and Exposure to Noise near Airports: the HYENA study," Environmental Health Perspectives 116:329-333. Read study
  8. 24% higher stroke risk near Heathrow: Hansell et al. (2013), "Aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease near Heathrow airport in London: small area study," BMJ 347:f5432. Read study
  9. 8.9% more depression per 10 dB (NORAH study): Beutel et al. (2016), "Noise Annoyance Is Associated with Depression and Anxiety — The Contribution of Aircraft Noise," PLOS ONE. Read study
  10. NORAH children's cognition findings: Klatte et al. (2017), "Effects of Aircraft Noise on Reading and Quality of Life in Primary School Children in Germany," Environment and Behavior. Read study
  11. 0.6-1% property value loss per decibel: Allroggen, Hansman, Knittel, Li, Wan, Wang (2025), "Planes Overhead: How Airplane Noise Impacts Home Values," NBER Working Paper 34431. Read paper
  12. Ultrafine particles & children's respiratory health near Schiphol: Lenssen et al. (2024), "Respiratory health effects of ultrafine particles from aviation in children," Environment International 188:108759. Read study
  13. Schiphol ultrafine particles & adult health: Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Read summary
  14. Aviation pollution & health impacts overview: Environmental Health Journal (2020). Read study
  15. Münzel review of noise & cardiovascular pathway: Münzel et al. (2017), "Environmental stressors and cardio-metabolic disease," European Heart Journal 38:557-564. Read review