"Good Neighbors Keep Their Noise To Themselves"

Aviation Noise

Aircraft and airport noise is one of the most difficult noise problems to address. Large airports are getting larger, and expansion of small regional airports is the single greatest threat placed upon us by the aviation industry today. Below you will find resources available on the NPC website that focus specifically on the aviation noise problem.

If you are looking for a grassroots group that is fighting the airport near you, contact the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse using our web form. Also see this list of websites for grassroots Airport Noise Groups.

• Chapter 9 of California's Land Use Planning Handbook. This is a good resource regarding safety around airports. To get the entire handbook, or other chapters from this handbook in PDF form, click here.
• Improving General Aviation Security. This is a report to Congress from the FAA after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
• Assessment of Noise Annoyance (2001)
  This paper provides an excellent critique of the FAA's reliance on 65 DNL. The author is the executive director of the Institute of Noise Control Engineers. If you don't already have it, you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file.
• Hatton and Others v. The United Kingdom
  European Court of Human Rights decision that residents around Heathrow Airport in London have the right to undisturbed sleep.
• Oakland Airport Court Decision
  This decision in the California appeals court system sets a precedent, at least in California, that 65 DNL is not a sufficient criteria to use in Environmental Impact Reports; single event noise levels must also be considered.
• SeaAir v. City of New York
  This landmark decision will set a precedent for municipalities nationwide that want to regulate heliports. This is the first case to focus on air tour regulation.
• Aviation Noise Effects
  This report, written by the FAA, summarizes the effects of aviation noise in many areas, ranging from human annoyance to impact on real estate values. (This is a very long text, so wait for it load completely.)
• Draft Aviation Noise Abatement Policy (July 2000)
  The Federal Aviation Administration recently published this draft. This Policy provides guidelines for most FAA actions related to alleviating aviation noise. The current draft policy has a number of objectionable features and glaring ommissions. We have until August 28, 2000 to make ourselves heard over the roar of airplanes! For more information see NPC's FAA Noise Abatement Policy Alert page.
• House Air Noise Caucus Membership (June 2000)
  This page lists the 20 members of the Air Noise Caucus in the United States House of Representatives. The caucus concentrates on: bills to limit aircraft operations that unreasonably impact residents; advancing noise reduction technology; and relevant appropriations. See if your politicians are representing your interests-- and if they're not, ask them to join the Air Noise Caucus!
• EPA Comment Letter and Attachment sent to the FAA, opposing the expansion of Logan Airport (April 1999)
  This letter from EPA Region One to the FAA states that the expansion of Logan Airport (Boston) can not be justified. The letter and attachment review several relevant statutes and guidelines, and concludes that the FAA has not complied with federal law. Consequently, the EPA evaluation of the proposal is "Environmental Objections; Insufficient Information."
• EPA Comment Letter to the FAA, opposing the expansion of Piedmont Triad International Airport (June 2000)
  This letter and attachments from the Federal EPA Region Four opposes the expansion of the Greensboro, North Carolina, Piedmont Triad International Airport. The proposed action involves the addition of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) overnight express air cargo runway and associated facilities, and would make PTIA a hub for Federal Express. The EPA states that it does not believe that the DEIS fully describes the proposed air cargo operations and the associated potential noise impacts, nor fully addresses the mitigation of those impacts.
• A Review of Recent Public Comments on the Application of Aircraft Noise Descriptors (Does the Public Support our Noise Policy?) (July 1991)
  This report presents selected recent public comments by individuals and communities concerning reactions to aircraft noise. It shows that patterns of denial, obfuscation, delay, stonewalling, and total disregard for environmental noise impacts is repeated from coast to coast, underlying the need for altered attitudes as well as technical procedures and processes.
• Estimation of Cancer Risks Attributed to Air Pollution in SW Chicago (April 1993)
  A study prepared for the EPA that estimates the cancer risks from 30 pollutants in Southwest Chicago, including pollutants emitted by Midway Airport.
• Air Toxic Report: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut Metro Area (1989)
  This report summarizes data gathered pursuant to the Community Right-To-Know Act. Data shows that staggering amounts of toxins are released into the air in the Tri-State area, which is home to three major airports. Unfortunately, the report does not distinguish between airports and other "manufacturers."
  
• Resolution of the National Parent Teachers Association (PTA) (1999)
  This National PTA resolution recognizes the need to protect children from the effects of aircraft emissions. The National PTA supports toxic emission study, remedial steps, airport reporting requirements, and environmental restrictions on airports.
• Resolution of the City of Minneapolis (December 1998)
  This resolution by the city of Minneapolis resolution discourages work-related travel by city employees and members of downtown committees on flights to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Resolution of the Rutherford, New Jersey Board of Education (January 1998)
  Recognizing the effects of airport noise on children, the Rutherford Board of Education resolved to call upon authorities to institute immediate steps to dramatically reduce aircraft noise pollution over Rutherford schools.
• NPC's Noise in Our National Parks feature provides resources and information to protect national parks, wildlife, and our rural environment from the effects of aviation noise.
• Fifteen Ways to Quiet the Skies
• Growth in air travel
• Growth in airports
• Stage III noise control
• Wrong Priorities