Aircraft Takeoffs and Landings Suspended to Control Noise During College Entrance Exams

Illustration of Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/Simply Aviation)

JAKARTA - The South Korean government said Tuesday that all takeoffs and landings across the country will be temporarily banned to reduce noise during the annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) this midweek.

According to the transport ministry, takeoffs and landings will be restricted for 35 minutes between 1:05 p.m. and 1:40 p.m. on Thursday, when the English listening section of the national college entrance exam will be administered, The Korea Times reported on Nov. 12.

The measure is aimed at preventing noise from aircraft activity during the exam.

All aircraft in flight, except those in emergency situations, must remain in the air at an altitude of 3 kilometers or higher under the control of air traffic control authorities.

It said the operating schedules of 156 flights will be adjusted in advance to avoid the time period.

Airlines will provide advance notice of the change to passengers with reservations, the ministry said.

It is known that the CSAT, which is held on the third Thursday of November every year, is one of the most important academic events in the country, as it is the culmination of years of hard work for many students who want to enter top universities.