[WASHINGTON D.C., JULY 19, 2023] – The Wall Street Journal is slamming the misguided efforts of a Delta-backed group and several members of Congress trying to change the slot and perimeter rules at Reagan National Airport [DCA], acknowledging that more flights at DCA would mean more delays and congestion at the overburdened airport. The Journal criticizes the Owens amendment – which is pushing to add more flights to DCA — for putting the interests of members of Congress over those of the public.

Residents who live under and near Reagan National Airport’s flight paths and visitors to the National Mall from around the world are already exposed to a conveyor belt of noise spikes from more than 400 aircraft every day. Unlike with highways, there is no sound barrier for this noise. It undermines the serenity and grandeur of our treasured national monuments and poses a serious health threat for tens of thousands of residents.

On Tuesday, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a markup of the FAA Reauthorization.  An amendment to add more flights to DCA was withdrawn, and the committee ultimately passed the bill out of committee without any changes to the slot and perimeter rules. 

A terrific investigative report about the health implications of noise was published last weekend by the New York Times.

Great news! The Washington Post editorial board just published an opinion piece opposing any changes to the slot and perimeter rule. In their words: “This would make a mess of DCA — worsening delays, noise, congestion and overcrowding — while destabilizing the regional air network.”

George Allen, a Republican, was governor of Virginia from 1994 to 1998, a U.S. senator from 2001 to 2007, a member of the House from 1991 to 1993 and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1983 to 1991. He is a Reagan Ranch presidential scholar for the Young America’s Foundation.

Congressional threat to expand the Perimeter Rule at DCA is in the news

A new organization calling itself the Capital Access Alliance is urging Congress to eliminate the long-standing perimeter rule at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Doing so would allow unlimited long-haul flights to arrive and depart at DCA.

BIG NEWS: The DCA Community Noise Working Group recently voted to endorse the FAA design for a new GPS-based approach procedure that is expected to provide some aircraft noise mitigation for our communities.

Members of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, including Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8), sent a letter Dec. 1 to the Federal Aviation Administration asking the FAA to take actions to ensure that communities impacted by aviation are treated as legitimate stakeholders in the agency’s decision-making processes.

At the Oct. 2022 meeting of the DCA Community Noise Working Group, the FAA presented modifications to the proposal new approach procedure signaling a possible way forward.

Study says concentrated flight paths at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) airport have negative health effects that will, on average, cost Marylanders in excess of $40 million per year over the next 30 years.

Cleaner, Quieter Airplane Act signed into law and a FFA-funded sleep study looking at nighttime aircraft noise and sleep disturbance is underway. The findings are anticipated Sept. 2024.

Number of flights at DCA almost back to pre-pandemic levels.

Studio City for Quiet Skies, a community group fighting the harm caused by the NextGen changes at Burbank Airport, sent an email July 6 calling on Secretary Buttgieg to fix the severe damage caused by NextGen.

A trial helicopter noise reporting system for the DC area is now operationala.

A national online conference, Aircraft Noise, Pollution and Health: Connecting the Dots, drew more than 400 participants from the United States and other countries.

Our beautiful skies could soon be filled with more than commercial aircraft and helicopters. NASA is bringing together government and private sector interests to study the future of aviation.

We know that the consultant covered a lot of material that night! If you want to review some of it before submitting comments, links to the presentation and the powerpoint are provided below.

Greetings to all! Although the frequency of flights over our homes is approaching pre-pandemic levels again, we have news that may help to improve your spirits.