 A provision of the original Civil Aviation Act allows designated airports to be required to provide facilities for consultation with affected parties , where local environmental concerns can be raised , and some 51 airports have been so designated . A 2000 consultation by the government re @-@ iterated its policy that generally , local issues arising from airport operations are best addressed locally . To support this the Civil Aviation Act was extended in 2006 to give all airports the authority to mandate measures to address noise and air quality issues beyond their boundaries , and to impose financial penalties on aircraft which fail or are unable to adhere to such measures . The Civil Aviation Act 2006 also extends the provisions of section 78 of the original act , augmenting the powers of the Secretary of State to intervene directly in operations at designated airports ; currently Heathrow , Gatwick and Stansted , " … for the purpose of avoiding , limiting or mitigating the effect of noise and vibration connected with aircraft landing or taking off . " The largest airports also implement voluntary schemes to assist local communities in coping with the local impacts of airport operations . Birmingham International Airport , for example , has been operating a sound insulation scheme since 1978 , in which 7 @,@ 600 properties are eligible for sound proof glazing paid for by the airport . Schemes are also available to residents most affected by noise around Heathrow , designed to protect property prices ahead of any development of a third runway , assist with relocation costs for people who wish to move , and provide sound insulation for private and communal property currently affected by noise . In both cases local residents have also set up campaign groups ; Birmingham Airport anti @-@ Noise Group , and HACAN Clearskies at Heathrow , to represent themselves over local environmental issues arising from airport operations . Even the smallest of airports engaged in air transport operations ; Gloucestershire Airport , has attracted organised opposition to its plans to extend the main runway there , and the umbrella group AirportWatch lists over 20 local airport campaign groups . 
