Measures aimed at minimizing impacts of air traffic noise in the vicinity of airports also include the declaration of noise protection zones around the airport in question by an appropriate land-use decision.
The noise protection zone (consisting of two subzones) comprises the territory in which the planned air traffic will cause the maximum noise limit to be exceeded. It represents a lawful instrument of control of the land-use planning process, and establishes prerequisites for settling and solving mutual relations between the airport and its neighbours Ceská správa letišt, s.p. (CSL s.p.) has hitherto managed to arrange the declaration of the noise protection zone of the Praha - Ruzyne Airport’s existing runway and taxiway system in Prague the territory as of July 1998. It, however, has not yet succeeded in including the remaining part of the noise protection zone in the territory of the Prague - West and Kladno districts because of the necessity to change and amend the existing land-use planning documentation of some villages and municipalities around the airport. New construction projects situated in the noise protection zone are subject to the following requirements and limitations:

	Subzone B	Subzone A
Health care and school buildings	construction not possible	construction not possible
Residential buildings	construction not possible	mandatory presentation of a certificate of compliance with applicable interior noise limits
Production buildings and ware- houses, administration, services	mandatory presentation of a certificate of compliance with applicable interior noise limits	no limitation

Insofar as existing residential, health care and school buildings in Subzones A and B are concerned, CSL s.p. will make arrangements for their windows to be replaced and other modifications between 1998 and 2000.
Also contributing to improvements of the acoustic situation around the Prague - Ruzyne Airport is the fees and charges policy of CSL s.p. In 1995 a differentiated list of noise generation charges was introduced for all airplanes landing in Ruzyne. The charge is based on the noise class and the weight of the airplane in question. There are four noise classes applied by the Ruzyne Airport, the best of the being Class 1. By exerting economic pressure on carriers CSL s.p. is trying to force them to replace outdated models for new ones and to reduce the number of takeoffs and landings.
Revenues from the charges are used, inter alia, to fund continuous monitoring of air traffic noise. Since 1999 they also will be used to pay for noise abatement measurements in the noise protection zone of the Ruzyne Airport. In accordance with international regulations and rules in effect CSL s.p. does not derive any profit from the charges.

Aircraft falling into different noise classes between 1995 and 1998

 Noise protection zones of the Prague - Ruzyne Airport 

CONSTRUCTION NOISE

Minimizing construction-generated noise levels is rather difficult as heavy machines frequently producing much noise are used. However, there are differences in noise levels produced even among various types of building and earth-moving machinery. It is then up to the contractor whether he is prepared and willing to deploy less noisy machines in sensitive building projects and sites. There must be more related noise-abatement measures starting with the organization of work, noise discipline of workers, suitable working hours, and ending with keeping locals residents posted of the schedule and progress of the project.