The Pollution Control Department (PCD) is preparing drastic measures to reduce noise pollution caused by aircraft landing and taking off at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The measures will be put before the National Environment Board for consideration by the end of this month.

"We plan to be strict about the aircraft that use the new airport, their specifications and their flying patterns," PCD director-general Monthip Srirattana Tabuganon said yesterday.

She was speaking after a meeting with representatives from relevant authorities including Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Civil Aviation Department, Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), the Transport Ministry and the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning.

According to Monthip, it will be proposed that aeroplanes that fail to pass noise-certification requirements by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) be prohibited from using the new airport.

The proposed measures will also require planes to change their flying patterns when using Suvarnabhumi Airport to ensure minimum noise around the airport's neighbourhood.

"The AOT will have to inform airlines and monitor their compliance," Monthip said, adding that relevant officials would meet again tomorrow to discuss the proposed measures in detail.

However, she said a conclusion had already been reached that the concentration of runway use should focus on the western runway because it would reduce noise pollution in affected housing estates.

PCD deputy director-general Suwat Wangwongwattana said his department had already asked the Mental Health Department to help take care of residents suffering from noise pollution caused by the new airport.

"In future, we also plan to set up a hotline to provide counselling services," he said.

Suwat also disclosed that the AOT has earmarked Bt390 million to compensate the owners of 71 houses in areas that, according to the environmental impact assessment (EIA), were suffering from noise pollution caused by planes landing and taking off at the airport.

He said the relevant authorities, based on aerial photographs, were also aware that the number of affected houses had increased since the EIA was conducted.

"The AOT has taken this into account and will also consider giving them compensation," he said.

Civil Aviation Department director-general Chaisak Angsuwan said most aircraft in the Thai Airways International fleet had passed the ICAO requirements.

In a related development, Suvarnabhumi Airport's director Somchai Sawasdeephon said he had already ordered the construction of 400 new toilet cubicles in the airport in response to heavy criticism that the airport lacked enough facilities.