STEELE CREEK NEWS
FAA Plans to Change
Airplane Routes and Disperse Noise
(December
15, 2014)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to optimize routes
for aircraft departing and arriving at the Charlotte airport. The
result will be increased efficiency but also a dispersal of routes
leading to and from the airport. This dispersal of aircraft routes
will also mean a dispersal
of noise. The noise will still exist but not constantly over the
same neighborhoods and houses.
Changes will not affect routes within about 2 miles of the airport
that are controlled from the Charlotte airport tower, but once
airplanes leave this space, the routes will disperse to a greater
extent than in the past.
The document "Draft Environmental Assessment for Charlotte
Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex," states
that "The noise analysis demonstrates that noise exposure resulting
from implementation of the Proposed Action would not result in a
day-night average sound level (DNL) increase of 1.5 dBA or higher in
noise sensitive areas exposed to DNL 65 dB or higher. Therefore, the
Proposed Action would not result in a significant noise impact."
The changes will not have a noise impact according to the FAA because the FAA does not
recognize noise levels that average less than 65 decibels as
being significant. See
Maps Show Very Low Average Noise Level around Airport.
To see the document and for more information, go to the
Metroplex Environmental web site and click on "Charlotte
Metroplex" in the Metroplex drop down menu.
However, FAA and consultant staff at the public information
workshop on December 9 said that the planned changes will increase
the number of routes airplanes use while approaching and departing
the airport. The result will be a dispersal of airplane traffic,
especially for departing airplanes.
Rather than having a few set routes that continually send airplanes
over the same houses and neighborhoods, airplanes will have more
routes to follow. The result will be
a "starburst" effect, they said. Airplane noise will not be reduced, but it will
be dispersed over more areas.
Currently airplanes follow narrow routes that concentrate noise
in a few corridors. Neighborhoods many miles away from the airport
have been negatively impacted by continual airplane noise. Staff
said that complaints have been heard, and the planned changes are
intended in part to alleviate this problem and disperse the noise,
although that objective is not stated in the document.
If adopted,
the planned changes will take effect in fall 2015.
The public is invited to comment on the plans by mail or email.
Contact information is available
HERE. Written comments will be accepted by the FAA until Monday,
January 5, 2015.
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story, please visit the
Steele Creek Forum.
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