The Real Impact of Aircraft Noise in America: New Data Shows Nearly 8 Million Affected

MINNEAPOLIS - Aug. 15, 2015 - PRLog -- In cities across the country residents living near airports are experiencing a growing barrage of noise pollution from commercial aircraft.  Noise complaints to airport commissions and officials are rising, too.  Yet, time and time again frustrated and angry citizens are merely told that nothing can be done, that decisions about overflights and noise levels are in the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In Minneapolis, however, the co-founder of the citizens group, MSP FairSkies Coalition—an alliance of 4,000 Twin Cities residents seeking greater transparency and accountability from the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) and the FAA—decided to challenge the logic behind current FAA decisions with a deep analysis of the agency’s own data.

The result:  A 17-minute video presentation, “The Real Impact of Aircraft Noise in America,” (http://www.mspfairskies.org/real-impact/ ) that demonstrates the enormity of the problem, which has been significantly underestimated by the FAA, and suggests a path forward.

Kevin Terrell, of Katana Consulting and co-founder of MSP FairSkies Coalition, partnered with the University of Minnesota Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) to complete a noise analysis of the top 35 U.S. airports based on data obtained from the FAA—data funded by tax dollars, yet Terrell was required to file for access under the Freedom of Information Act and pay $1,800.

“The Real Impact of Aircraft Noise in America” is filled with startling facts that go a long way to explaining why there is such a disconnect between citizens and the FAA as it claims its new “superhighways in the sky” are not causing any significant impact in local communities.  Consider just a few of its findings:

·         Using the current, internationally-accepted noise threshold of 55dB, citizen-led analysis of the FAA’s own data shows nearly 8 million people in the U.S. are affected by aircraft noise—20 times the FAA claim of 342,000.

·         There is ample scientific evidence that supports lowering the current FAA-determined noise threshold for significant impact of aircraft noise from 65dB DNL to 55dB DNL.  Yet, the FAA wants to continue to “study the problem.”

·         The FAA already generates data showing the impact of aircraft noise at all major airports in the country, at noise levels far below 65 dB DNL.  This data, however, is not used to inform citizens of the true nature of the problem of aircraft noise in their communities.

·         The FAA’s failure to use a modern, scientifically sound understanding of the impact of aircraft noise is a root cause of disconnect between the agency and citizens.

According to Terrell, “My intention with this project was to drive transparency on this issue so that we can have a discussion among all stakeholders—citizens, officials and agencies—based upon facts. It really shouldn’t take the effort of private citizens to point out to the FAA what they have known for years:  Aircraft noise is not just irritating millions of residents across the country, but it is a serious health and quality of life problem.  In this presentation we not only highlight the discrepancies in the data the FAA uses and releases, but we also offer tangible solutions to help us better understand and address the issue of aircraft noise pollution.”

“The Real Impact of Aircraft Noise in America” provides an opportunity for citizens to use facts and data and write to their elected officials and ask that they support the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus recommendations for the 2015 FAA Reauthorization Act.  For additional information about the caucus and its recommendations go to: http://crowley.house.gov/press-release/reps-crowley-israel-meng-and-mccarthy-announce-quiet-skies-caucus-combat-aircraft

MSP FairSkies Coalition, a volunteer grassroots effort, was co-founded in 2012 and led by Steve Kittleson and Kevin Terrell to oppose the FAA and MAC’s proposed implementation of NextGen Technology at MSP International Airport that would have condensed flight paths into “super highways” over densely populated neighborhoods in Minneapolis and Edina, Minn. To date, MSP FairSkies Coalition is the only citizen group in the U.S. that has successfully prevented the FAA from implementing new NextGen-based departure tracks at a hub airport.  MSP FairSkies Coalition continues to work towards finding fair solutions to the complex and growing issues surrounding aviation noise and advocates for protecting citizens’ property rights, health and wellness from the impact of aircraft noise.

Kittleson, a resident of Minneapolis, is a business consultant with a Fortune 100 health care company.  Terrell, also a resident of Minneapolis, is a partner at Katana Consulting, a management-consulting firm, based in Minneapolis.

For more information about MSP FairSkies Coalition go to: www.mspfairskies.org

#  #   #