June 2023 MoCo Quiet Skies Coalition's Letter to the Editor in today's Washington Post

We hope you enjoy reading our letter to the editor about the slot/perimeter rule and about the aircraft noise problem in general in the Washington Post today! 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/21/reagan-national-excess-noise/

Full text of our letter to the editor: 

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.

Larger aircraft that are used for long-haul flights tend to produce even worse noise pollution than smaller aircraft. The weight of their extra fuel requires more thrust on takeoff, their larger airframes create more noise, and they have an immense noise footprint that can be miles wide. According to the American Public Health Association, such “unwanted and disturbing sound increases the risk for a variety of negative health outcomes such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, hearing loss, and sleep disturbance.” If National’s slot and perimeter rules are weakened, the injurious aircraft noise problem that already plagues tens of thousands of residents and visitors to our beautiful city from around the world will be worsened. We are counting on Congress to do the right thing by leaving these protective rules in place.

Anne Hollander and Janelle Wright, Bethesda

The writers are founders and leaders of the Montgomery County Quiet Skies Coalition of Maryland.