THERE has been a drop in the number of complaints about noise made to Stansted Airport, bosses have said.

THERE has been a drop in the number of complaints about noise made to Stansted Airport, bosses have said.

The news emerged at the airport's eighth annual noise seminar at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, where BAA defended its environmental record, saying only the “cleanest and most efficient” planes can use the airport.

New and updated maps showing the flight paths and height of aircraft arriving and departing from Stansted were released, showing stacking patterns over the Sudbury area.

Nick Barton, commercial and development director, said: “We continue to champion the use at Stansted of the world's most modern, clean and efficient aircraft - the type operated by low-cost airlines that operate here.

“We continue to keep noisy planes out of our airport. There are strict limits on noise, and we make sure that our airlines stick to the rules.”

Dr Mark Watson, from the Society of British Aerospace Companies, said: “The current debate over airport expansion at both Heathrow and Stansted is being influenced by biased claims from aviation's opponents.

“Current aircraft noise emissions are 75 per cent lower than they were 30 years ago and we have set ourselves the target of a further reduction of 50pc by 2020.”

However Norman Meade, deputy chairman of Stop Stansted Expansion said although planes were getting quieter, a second runway at the airport would mean misery for tens of thousands affected by the noise.

“The flights may be quieter than before but the growing problem is the increased frequency of aircraft,” he said.