1. Planning for Airport Noise The Roar of Discontent
Luke Jensen
Airport Systems
November 12, 2013

2. Outline Aircraft Noise Metrics Planning and Reporting Requirements
Case Study 1: Logan Runway 14/32
Case Study 2: Greener Skies over Seattle

3. Noise Metrics Def: Noise is any unwanted sound
Perceived loudness is ultimate concern
“A-weighted” dB
Equivalent Noise Level
DNL, CNEL
Other metrics
Max Level
Time-Above
Graphic: Harris, Miller, Miller, & Hansen

4. Converting “Noise” to “Annoyance”
Complicated problem
Highly subjective
Compounding factors
Pitch
Loudness
Sharpness
Tonality
Duration
Time of day
Regression appropriate?

5. Mandatory Reporting Requirements
National Environment Policy Act (NEPA, 1969)
FAA Airport Environment Program
Order E
Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental Assessment
Mandatory for all expansion projects

6. Optional Reporting FAA Airport Environment Program
Part 150: Noise Compatibility Planning
Required for federal NCP funding
Optional, but lucrative
Part 161: Noise-related Access Restrictions

7. Case Study #1: Logan Airport Runway 14/32
Opened in 2006
34-year development timeline (mostly politics)
Clear-cut symbolism of new pavement
Graphic: HNTB
Graphic: Michael Philip Manheim/NARA
Graphic: Boston Sunday Globe

8. Historical Context
All Images: Michael Philip Manheim/NARA

9. Justification for Airside Improvement Plan

10. Noise Analysis Process: Detailed forecast
Integrated Noise Model study to obtain contours
Visualization + Census Synthesis

11. Case Study #2: Greener Skies over Seattle
New “Required Navigation Performance” Approaches
Tailored flight paths
Reduce emissions, flight time
Concentrated flight paths
New frontier of NextGen
Public relations challenge: is this good or bad for communities?
Graphic: FAA

12. New Analysis Methods: CatEx?

13. Conclusions
Movement toward multi-stakeholder collaborative decision making shows strong promise
Political factors most important factor of environmental review timeline
Noise metrics currently taken as “given”, should likely be revisited given modern noise research
NextGen implementation timeline constrained by environmental review process
Further investigation of Categorical Exception to FAA Order E needed

14. Thank You! Questions?