See http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=2&articleid=92220050177250922200501535578
Ban night flights, let us sleep in peace Roshan Balakrishnan Nicholas Almeida, a resident of Sahar village in Mumbai, has been waging a lonely battle for the past two years. He wants a ban on movement of flights at night saying the noise disturbs people living near the airport. Mumbai has two airports, one for domestic and another for international flights, located near Sahar village. "A noise level of over 60 decibels (dB) is harmful to the ears. We have to bear noise levels of over 140dB. "When big international airports can ban night flights, why not Mumbai," said Almeida, a social activist and a former municipal councillor. "Many of us have become insomniacs due to lack of peaceful sleep at night," he said. Several complaints to the police have fallen on deaf ears. On September 13, 200 residents organised a morcha to the local police station demanding a ban on flight movement between 10pm and 6am. On September 20, Almeida issued a legal notice (a copy of which is with the Mumbai Mirror) to Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Shashikant Shinde, who is in charge of the airport zone, demanding action within 7 days. When contacted, DCP Shinde refused to comment. However, Airport Director Sudhir Kumar was clear about the consequences of such a ban. "Several European countries have banned night flights. Owing to the time difference in the two continents, flights from India can land in Europe during the day only if they take off at night. Hence, a ban would be impractical." Some international airports where night flights are banned Heathrow airport London: Ban from 11pm to 6am Orly airport Paris: Ban from 12am to 5am Brisbane airport Australia: Ban from 12am to 5am Some where night flights are allowed CDG airport, Paris. Changi airport, Singapore. Chicago airport USA.