Webtrack Noise Map

Tirana Airport operates a sophisticated webtrack system that lets residents monitor every aircraft operating around the airport. You can follow flight paths in real time as planes take off or land, seeing detailed information about each aircraft alongside actual noise measurements. The system exists so you can verify whether sound levels stay within legal limits established for Tirana and surrounding communities.

How the System Works

The webtrack application, often provided by specialists like EMS Brüel & Kjær, pulls data from multiple sources simultaneously. Radar systems track aircraft positions while flight plans provide scheduled route information. Noise monitoring terminals positioned throughout neighborhoods record actual sound levels as planes pass overhead. All this data combines on topographic maps that show exactly where planes flew and how much noise they generated.

One powerful feature lets you check historical records. The system stores flight data going back sixty days. You can verify whether pilots stuck to assigned routes and followed proper procedures during any timeframe. This transparency keeps airlines accountable and gives residents concrete information rather than just complaints about noise.

Ground-Level Monitoring

Aircraft don't just make noise while flying. Planes parked at terminal gates run engines during maintenance and preparations. These ground operations affect neighborhoods closest to the airport, especially during nighttime hours when ambient sound levels drop.

We monitor noise at parking aprons using the SCVA system—Visual and Acoustic Control. This combines sensitive microphones with video cameras positioned around aircraft stands. Equipment captures comprehensive data about which planes generate sound, when it happens, and how loud it gets. Night operations receive particular attention since sound carries farther when cities quiet down.

Reading the Webtrack Display

Colors tell you what each aircraft's doing when you open the system. Red marks identify planes landing at Tirana. Green indicates departures taking off from the airport. Sometimes you'll spot amber-colored aircraft on the map—these represent flights whose trajectories haven't been identified yet in our database.

Accessing Webtrack

The monitoring system opens in a separate browser window. Click the link below to launch the application and start tracking flights. You'll see an interactive map centered on Tirana Airport with aircraft positions updating continuously. Navigation works like standard mapping applications—zoom in to focus on specific neighborhoods or zoom out to see wider traffic patterns.

Interactive Noise Mapping

Here's where the system proves most valuable for residents. You can check exact noise levels caused by individual aircraft during specific time periods. Click any plane on the map to see its flight number, aircraft type, altitude, and associated sound measurements from nearby monitoring stations.

TMR stations record this acoustic data - noise monitoring stations we've positioned strategically throughout communities surrounding the airport. These devices constantly measure sound levels and feed information into the central system. When aircraft pass overhead, sensors capture peak noise along with duration and frequency characteristics.

Why Public Access Matters

We made this tool publicly available because transparency builds trust. Residents deserve reliable information about aviation operations and the noise they generate. Instead of wondering whether that loud plane exceeded acceptable limits, you can look it up yourself using actual measured data.

The system also helps identify patterns. Maybe certain approach paths consistently cause more disturbance than others. Perhaps specific airlines need reminders about noise abatement procedures. This data lets airport management, air traffic control, and airlines work together improving operations for everyone affected.

Understanding the Data

Information comes from Albania's Air Traffic Service Centres, which provide radar tracking and flight plan details. We combine this with acoustic measurements from TMR terminals positioned across affected municipalities. Everything displays on detailed topographic maps showing terrain, neighborhoods, and flight corridors.

The system's completely reliable, though you'll notice some data appears with a thirty-minute delay. This happens for security reasons - real-time aircraft tracking raises concerns about unauthorized surveillance. The delay protects operations while still giving residents timely information about flights affecting their areas.

Noise level data becomes available twenty-four hours after operations. This processing time lets technicians verify measurements and match them accurately with specific aircraft. You can search back through the previous forty-five days of flight activity, checking any date you're curious about.

Filing Noise Complaints

If an aircraft bothered you with excessive noise, reporting it through Webtrack takes just minutes. The system includes a built-in complaint mechanism that lets you document incidents directly linked to specific flights.

Our environmental team reviews every complaint submitted. They investigate circumstances surrounding the incident, checking whether the aircraft was operating normally and following proper procedures. You'll receive a response explaining what happened and whether the flight exceeded legal noise limits.

Noise Monitoring Terminals

TMR stations form the backbone of our acoustic monitoring network. These specialized devices sit in residential areas most affected by airport operations. Each terminal contains sensitive microphones calibrated to aviation noise characteristics plus weather sensors that account for atmospheric conditions affecting sound transmission.

Data streams continuously to central servers where software matches noise events with overhead aircraft. The system can distinguish between airplane noise and other sources - trucks, construction, thunderstorms. This precision ensures complaints address actual aviation impacts rather than unrelated disturbances.

Terminal locations aren't randomly chosen. We consulted with municipalities, analyzed flight paths, and studied complaint patterns before positioning equipment. Stations sit where aircraft noise demonstrably affects quality of life, providing evidence-based measurements rather than anecdotal reports.

Legal Noise Limits

Albania established regulations governing acceptable aircraft noise levels for communities near airports. These standards follow international guidelines, such as those set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), while accounting for local circumstances. Limits vary by time of day - nighttime restrictions enforce stricter thresholds when ambient sound naturally decreases and people sleep.

Airlines operating from Tirana must comply with these regulations. Pilots receive briefings about noise abatement procedures specific to our airport. Certain approach paths minimize overflights of residential areas. Departure procedures restrict engine power settings near populated zones. Compliance gets monitored through the same webtrack system available to residents.

When violations occur, airport authorities investigate immediately. Repeated infractions result in penalties against airlines or operators. The transparency of public monitoring keeps everyone honest about following rules designed to protect community wellbeing.

Continuous Improvement

Living near an airport means dealing with some level of aircraft noise. We recognize this reality and work constantly to minimize impacts. Tirana's growing as a destination—passenger numbers climb annually, which means more flights. But growth shouldn't sacrifice residents' quality of life. See the latest airport news for more on our growth.

The webtrack system serves multiple purposes beyond just monitoring. It identifies which procedures work best and which need adjustment. Data reveals whether certain runways or approach paths create disproportionate problems. This information lets us collaborate with air traffic control optimizing flight operations for both safety and community consideration.

We're not perfect. No airport can eliminate noise entirely while maintaining operations. However, transparency represents the crucial first step toward improvement. Every flight gets tracked, every noise measurement recorded, and all data remains available for public review. Residents can hold us accountable, and we can demonstrate tangible efforts to address legitimate concerns.