Aircraft Noise and Noise Exposure
Most noise complaints originate from aircraft operations during the initial phases of their take-off and departure or during the final phases of approach and landing. Since individuals have a wide range of sensitivity to noise, the extent of noise impact varies greatly among individuals.
The noise level perceived at any given point on the ground can vary widely based on a number of factors. These include but are not limited to:
- Aircraft type and size. Larger aircraft tend to be louder than smaller aircraft. An exception to this is corporate jet traffic. Corporate jets may be louder than larger, air carrier aircraft. Most federal noise regulations/restrictions apply only to air carrier aircraft.
- Aircraft load. Passenger, fuel, and cargo loads can affect noise levels. Heavier loaded aircraft generally ascend at a slower rate, increasing the exposure to communities near the airport or under the departure path.
- Weather. Weather can also affect noise levels. Dense and low cloud cover may reflect noise back to the ground, producing an "echo" effect which may intensify noise levels. Deviations from noise-abatement procedures may occur during poor weather conditions due to safety concerns.
- Time of Day. Aircraft operations during night-time or early morning hours may have a greater noise impact due to the time of day. People are often more sensitive to noise during normal “sleeping” hours. The same noise level and operation may actually seem worse during these hours due to this increased sensitivity.
- Season. Aircraft noise is often a greater nuisance during seasons where residents leave their windows open. During the Summer and Winter months, homes usually have the windows closed, limiting the exposure to outside noise sources. During Spring and Fall seasons, temperatures are more moderate in our area and homes tend to have the windows open. During these times people may be more sensitive to outside noise.
- Human Factors. Noise affects different people in different ways. Some are more sensitive to noise in general. Different people may be more or less sensitive to certain types or sources of noise. Individuals living in the same neighborhood or even within the same home may have different levels of sensitivity to outside noise.
Although some aircraft noise is inevitable, with the cooperation of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Airport has implemented noise abatement procedures to reduce the effects of noise on surrounding residents. Additional noise mitigation initiatives implemented by the Airport include; restrictions on certain nighttime operations, implementation of a dedicated Aircraft Noise Hotline and online noise complaint submission form, and the creation of the Aircraft Noise Abatement Task Force. These initiatives are all discussed in detail on this site. Additional programs are under development so stay tuned!
