Tax breaks are among the perks recommended for those affected by aircraft noise in a report published today.

That is one of a range of proposals set out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in its latest guidance for airport operators, including Heathrow, to minimise the impact of noise on those living under their flight paths.

Steeper approaches, extra money for insulating homes against noise, and incentives for airlines to use quieter planes is among the other advice in the independent regulator's new document Managing Aviation Noise.

The guidelines cover changes airports and airlines could make now as well as improvements which could be imposed ahead of expansion being approved.

The recommendations include:

* ensuring 'operational approaches' to reduce noise, like steeper descent paths, are encouraged

* when looking to expand airports should do more to ensure local residents see benefits from additional capacity - whether through funding community schemes, direct payments or tax breaks

* airports seeking expansion should significantly increase spending on noise mitigation schemes to get closer to international competitors - including full insulation for those most affected

* airlines should focus on noise performance when purchasing new aircraft

* airports should structure their landing charges to encourage airlines to operate cleaner, quieter flights

Iain Osborne, CAA's group director for regulatory policy, said: "Very many people in the UK are already affected by aviation noise and it's clear that unless the industry tackles this issue more effectively, it won't be able to grow.

"The recommendations we're making will help the industry to reduce and mitigate its noise impact, whilst also making sure the communities affected by aircraft noise are fairly compensated and feel much more involved in the way their airport operates."

However, John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion campaign group HACAN, branded CAA's publication 'disappointing'.

"Although the report is packed with useful ideas on how to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on residents, it is on the whole a disappointing report as it says very little about how the number of planes flying over communities can be cut, which is the big issue for local residents," he said.

"We do welcome, though, a clear recognition in the report that there has been very little improvement in the noise climate around airports since 2000. This reflects the experience of residents and challenges those in the aviation industry who like to give the impression that things are getting steadily quieter."

The CAA's guidance comes as the Airports Commission weighs up rival proposals for a third runway at Heathrow and a second runway at Gatwick, ahead of making its final recommendations next summer.

Heathrow recently promised a £250 million compensation package for those affected by noise should it get the go-ahead for an extra runway.

Gatwick, meanwhile, has pledged to subsidise the council tax of households most affected by noise should it get a second runway.

A new Labour councillor in Hounslow last week described Heathrow as the 'obvious' choice for a new runway.