February 2021 MCQSC Update: FAA to Hold Webinar on Aircraft Noise Annoyance Study
FAA PUBLIC WEBINAR ON AIRCRAFT NOISE ANNOYANCE STUDY
The FAA recently released a very important, overdue survey of aircraft noise annoyance nationwide. The study shows that people are much more highly annoyed by aircraft noise than the FAA’s modeling and assumptions for the last 40+ years have assumed. (But of course, we already knew that…)
The FAA will hold a public webinar to present its findings on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. ET. We encourage everyone to attend. The webinar will explain how the recent study was conducted and provide an explanation of the findings, followed by a live Q&A session.
The study is known as the “Neighborhood Environmental Survey” (NES) and information about it was published in the Federal Register here. The Agency is inviting written comments from the public until March 15th. We will submit comments on behalf of all MCQSC members, and we also encourage everyone in MCQSC to submit their own comments and responses to the questions on which the FAA is requesting feedback. Your comments should at least convey the following:
The NES study confirms what we experience daily and have been submitting complaints about for years: the FAA’s current aircraft noise policies are completely inadequate to protect U.S. residents from aircraft noise.
The FAA should use the results of this study to complete a major revision of U.S. aircraft noise policy and should adopt significantly more protective standards than those which are in place today.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Speaking of important research, the authors of a recent study published in the European Noise Journal report the following: “our findings suggest that night-time aircraft noise can trigger acute cardiovascular mortality. The association was similar to that previously observed for long-term aircraft noise exposure.”
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke with DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg shortly after his confirmation and told him that aircraft noise is an issue of very significant concern to Marylanders. We anticipate working with the DOT and the FAA under Secretary Buttiigieg’s leadership. Thanks to Sen. Van Hollen for paving the way on this issue!
MCQSC leaders Anne Hollander and Janelle Wright gave a presentation about the history of the aircraft noise problem in the DC area to the West Montgomery County Citizens Association on Feb 10th.
MCQSC has a new website in the works -- more on that coming soon!
The 2021 Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium is coming up next week: Feb 23-26. The symposium is all virtual this year, making it a unique opportunity to learn more about this topic! The consultant who has been working with Montgomery County and Arlington County -- Jim Allerdice -- will be a speaker in the panel on Aircraft Dispersion. MCQSC president Anne Hollander will be moderating a panel on “Aircraft Noise and Emissions Legislation in the Next Congress” on Friday, Feb 26th. More information: https://anesymposium.aqrc.ucdavis.edu/. Registration closes this Friday, Feb. 19th.