Night flying restrictions or night-time curfews,[1] including night flight bans, are any regulations or legislation imposed by a governing body to limit the ground-perceived exposure to aircraft noise pollution during the night hours, when the majority of residents are trying to sleep. Such regulations may include restrictions to available flight paths, or prohibitions against takeoffs, or prohibitions against takeoffs and landings, or prohibitions against ground operations (engine runups or taxiing).[citation needed]
Night flying restrictions are common at airports in Europe.[clarification needed] Most airports in Germany have restrictions and curfews during the night.[citation needed] Several night flying restrictions including full night flight bans have been introduced in order to ensure that residents living near airports can sleep at night.