August 2022 MCSQC Update: New Law Tells NASA to Research Technologies For Cleaner, Quieter Planes and Other News

Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act signed into law:  Rep. Don Beyer's (D-VA) “Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act” was included in the CHIPS and Science Act that was recently signed into law.  The Act requires the NASA Administrator  to research, develop and demonstrate new technologies and concepts to reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions and reduce aviation noise emissions.  More details here. 

An FAA-funded National Sleep Study is underway.  The study will examine the relationship between nighttime aircraft noise exposure and sleep disturbance.  Results are anticipated in Sept. 2024.  

New DCA approach path update:  The FAA reported at the July 28th DCA Community Noise Working Group meeting that they are extremely backed up reviewing and approving new procedure designs.  Therefore, implementation of the new DCA approach procedures, including moving the DARIC waypoint from Maryland to Virginia (over CIA unpopulated property), will likely not happen until mid-year 2023, and possibly later.  We wish we could do something to speed up this process! -- but we remain hopeful that the changes, once implemented, will reduce noise for our communities.  

Please send your noise complaints to DCA and the FAA! MCQSC leaders are hearing from many of you that the airplane noise is intolerable again.  It’s very important that the public record reflects what you are experiencing.  Therefore, please take a brief moment to file your complaint!  Instructions for filing complaints are at the end of this update.  

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING NOISE COMPLAINTS:  Complaints can be simple and brief.  It doesn’t take long! 

You can submit noise complaints to the airport using your internet browser. 

1. For First-time users: At the complaints website, please select "Sign Up" to create an account.  If the website doesn't load properly, please make sure that all cookies are enabled in your internet browser's Settings menu.   

2. When you are filling out the complaints form, it is best if you choose only ONE EVENT Type.  It doesn't matter which Event Type you choose (for example "Too low," "Too loud," or "Constant noise") but please JUST CHOOSE ONE.

 You can submit complaints to the airport using the Airnoise App.  Many of our members find this to be he easiest and quickest way to file complaints. 

 You can file a complaint to the FAA here.  

 You can track the plane that woke you up or the planes recently overhead HERE.  

Please note that the DCA WebTrak site (airplane tracker) operates on a 1-hour, real-time data delay.  Historical flight activity for prior days is also available at this site.  Track noisy jet aircraft in real time as they fly overhead with The Flight Tracker app for iOS and the FlightAware Flight Tracker app for Android.

You can create a shortcut on your device's home screen for quick access.  Adding a shortcut icon to your device's home screen is not required in order to file noise complaints. 

1. Open the noise complaints website https://viewpoint.emsbk.com/dca3 on your internet browser on your device. 

2. On iPhone:  At the bottom of the page, tap on the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing out of the top).   

3. On Android Phone:  Tap on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of your browser (or tap on Menu, then Page).  

4. Tap on the option "Add to Home Screen" and click "Add".  

5. Go to your device's home screen and tap on the new shortcut icon to quickly open the noise complaints website.

 Whichever method you choose, just do it!  Thanks!!