Flight Path Checker
Check if your postcode is affected by aircraft noise from major UK airports. We cover Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol.
✈️ Heathrow Airport
47 postcode districts affected
Medium Impact (55-69 dB)
✈️ Gatwick Airport
13 postcode districts affected
High Impact (70+ dB)
Medium Impact (55-69 dB)
Low Impact (42-54 dB)
✈️ Manchester Airport
12 postcode districts affected
Medium Impact (55-69 dB)
✈️ Stansted Airport
8 postcode districts affected
High Impact (70+ dB)
Medium Impact (55-69 dB)
✈️ Luton Airport
9 postcode districts affected
High Impact (70+ dB)
✈️ Birmingham Airport
10 postcode districts affected
High Impact (70+ dB)
✈️ Edinburgh Airport
7 postcode districts affected
✈️ Bristol Airport
5 postcode districts affected
High Impact (70+ dB)
Medium Impact (55-69 dB)
Low Impact (42-54 dB)
How to Check the Flight Path Over Your House
To find out whether your home is under a flight path, search your postcode district in the box above or find it in the airport lists on this page. Each district shows an average aircraft noise figure in dB, grouped into high, medium and low impact bands. Districts in the high band sit closest to approach and departure routes, where aircraft are at their lowest altitude.
It is free to check any of the postcode districts we cover, and each district page breaks noise down by source, so you can see whether aircraft, road traffic or rail is the dominant sound where you live. If you are comparing areas before a house move, the quietest places in the UK ranking shows districts with no significant aircraft noise at all.
How Aircraft Noise Is Measured
Aircraft noise impact depends on distance from the runway, flight path direction, aircraft type and frequency. Areas directly under approach paths (typically 10-15 nautical miles) experience the highest noise, especially during early morning and late evening operations.
The noise levels shown are annual averages (LAeq). Peak noise during individual overflight events will be significantly higher — typically 75-90 dB for arrivals at low altitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a flight path over my house?
Enter your postcode in the search box above. If your postcode district is listed under one of the eight airports on this page, aircraft regularly pass overhead and the dB figure shows the average annual noise level for the district. If your district is not listed, it sits outside the main approach and departure corridors we track.
What flight path am I under?
The airport your postcode district is listed under tells you whose traffic affects your area. Districts closest to a runway sit beneath final approach paths, where aircraft fly lowest and loudest. For live aircraft positions over your home, each major airport also publishes its own flight tracking and noise pages on its website.
How far does aircraft noise travel from an airport?
Significant noise (above 55 dB) typically affects areas within 10-15km of a runway. However, under certain atmospheric conditions, noise can be noticeable up to 25km away. The impact depends on flight path direction, aircraft type, and frequency of flights.
Does aircraft noise affect house prices?
Yes. Properties directly under busy flight paths typically sell for less than comparable homes away from the noise, and the effect is greatest under approach paths where aircraft fly at lower altitudes. How much depends on how frequent and how loud the overflights are.
Can I soundproof against aircraft noise?
Secondary glazing and acoustic-rated windows are the most effective solutions. Many airports offer insulation grant schemes for the worst-affected properties. Triple glazing, acoustic curtains, and loft insulation also help significantly.
Are night flights banned at UK airports?
Most major UK airports have night flight restrictions between 11:30pm and 6:00am, but these are not complete bans. Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted have quota systems limiting the number and noise level of night flights. Smaller airports may have different rules.
Related Guides
- Motorway noise: affected postcodes by motorway corridor
- Railway noise: mainline and freight railway noise by postcode
- Noise and house prices: how flight paths can affect what a home is worth
- Soundproofing guide: secondary glazing and other solutions
- How to report noise: airport noise complaint contacts
- Decibel guide: what dB levels mean in practice