In this paper we apply cultural theory to understand the constitution of aircraft noise policy at Amsterdam Schiphol, the largest airport in the Netherlands. In line with Smit and Van Gunsteren (1997) this constitution is identified as an alliance between the hierarchical and egalitarian way of life. We show that this alliance has several weaknesses, in part, because it marginalizes the individualistic way of life. Given the nature of human response to aircraft noise the individualistic way of life can make a positive contribution to aircraft noise policy. Based on an empirical study into the ways actors around the airport respond to a concrete operationalization of the individualistic way of life we identify several explanations for its marginalization.