2025 NEW YEAR’S UPDATE: Status of aircraft noise impacting MoCo communities

DCA approach procedures (in southflow)

DCA departure procedures (in northflow)

Nighttime noise

Northflow/Southflow ratio

Overview

For anyone directly impacted by aviation noise, it comes as no surprise that noise is a public health hazard.

Impacts of the new approach procedures at DCA,  and a "Fly Quiet" Program for DCA?

Today we learned that the flight track variability we have been experiencing since July 11th is – surprise! – not a result of the new GPS approach procedure as we had thought. The new GPS approach procedure was published on July 11th, but we learned today that the FAA is not yet using it. Based on the flight track variability we observed on Webtrak, we had every reason to believe that they were, but....

The new approach procedures at DCA have been in effect for about 10 days, so we thought this would be a good time to check in with everyone about what we are seeing so far and what to expect going forward.

Hopeful news! The FAA is still scheduled to publish a new Runway 19 GPS approach procedure for DCA this Thursday, July 11, 2024

Airplane Noise May Be Bad for Your Health

Researchers find that exposure to aircraft noise is tied to a higher body mass index, which can increase risk of heart attack and stroke.

Senate passes FAA Reauthorization adding 5 slots/10 flights per day at DCA.

In the last week, the Senate released its version of the FAA Reauthorization.

The Senate version would add 5 more slots at DCA.

This translates to 10 more long-haul airplanes overhead every day: 1 arrival and 1 departure for each new slot.

Join Quiet Communities for the US Online Premiere The Quietest Year April 24-30

The 2024 Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium presentations are all available now on the ANE website. I particularly recommend the presentation by Marie-Jo Fremont under the "Innovative Strategies for Quantifying and Communicating Aviation Noise Impacts" session.

We hate to share bad news, but it appears that the date for changes to approach procedures into DCA from the north has slipped from May 16th to July 11th. We were not officially notified of the change by the FAA nor given any explanation, but the date of publication has changed on the FAA website that tracks these things, the IFP Gateway, and it was brought to our attention by our consultant, Jim Allerdice. If you were counting the weeks (like we were), add 8 more weeks to your counting - and let's all hope that it doesn't slip again.

Hello and New Year’s greetings from the Montgomery County Quiet Skies Coalition!

The new year is an opportunity to reflect on what we learned and accomplished in 2023 as we continue to seek solutions to excessive and repetitive aircraft noise in our communities.

THE FAA’s NOISE POLICY REVIEW COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED. A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who sent in comments!

The FAA recently informed the DCA Community Working Group that the proposed changes to approach procedures from the north at DCA, designed to mitigate noise, have passed one level of internal FAA review (finding of “no significant impact”) and have moved to the next level of review (review by the Performance Based Navigation group).

Complaints about airplane noise rise at Reagan National, Dulles

A rebound in air traffic has meant more flights and more noise complaints at the two airports near Washington

THE EFFORT TO ADD MORE FLIGHTS AT DCA FAILED in the House version of the FAA Reauthorization.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who helped with this STEP towards victory!

[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.