The FAA is asking the public for comments as it launches a review of its civil aviation noise policy, which “sets forth how the FAA analyzes, explains, and publicly presents changes in noise exposure from aviation activity.” According to the agency, key items covered will include reviewing research on the effects of exposure to aviation noise, the standard metric for assessing cumulative aircraft noise exposure and possible revisions to that metric. It will also look at community understanding of noise impacts and how to better manage and respond to aviation noise concerns.
“The FAA is reviewing our noise policy as part of our ongoing commitment to address aircraft noise,” the agency said. “This effort builds on our work to advance the scientific understanding of noise impacts as well as the development of analytical tools and technologies.”
The Federal Register Notice (FRN) was published on Monday and is open to comment from May 1 to July 31, 2023. In addition to the notice calling for comments, the FAA is planning a series of four webinars this month to discuss the Noise Policy Review. Further information is available at www.faa.gov/noisepolicyreview.
We are officially sliding down that slippery slope. Somehow, I sense it will not end up good for us
Next: FAA Calls For Public Comment On Chemtrails
Plus one on both of the above!
“Public comment”–would you guess that EVERY COMMENT would be anti-airplane “noise”?
Why don’t we have “public comment” on “FREEWAY NOISE”? It’s constant–it’s all-pervasive–it’s annoying–it decreases property values.
Do you suppose there will be any comments PRO “Airplane Noise”?
What’s next, another government study–perhaps “why do mice hate cats?”
Notice that this doesn’t ADDRESS noise–it’s a “STUDY of the study of aircraft noise.” From the article–“sets forth how the FAA analyzes, explains, and publicly presents changes in noise exposure from aviation activity.”
The FAA is a good example of the futility of government. Is it any wonder that so few pilots are big-government advocates?
“ Why don’t we have “public comment” on “FREEWAY NOISE”?”
Because we already do.
Just a few seconds of Googling for “public comment highway noise” yields loads of hits where the public is invited to comment on highway noise. Here is just one example:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/news-outreach/pressreleases/2023/03/21/mdot-public-open-house-april-11-to-discuss-draft-i-75-noise-study-in-oakland-co
And if you look around while driving on the highway you’ll see many types of noise-mitigation efforts, such as wooden walls, tall concrete slabs, or even dense rows of evergreen trees.
I guess I erred–I should have said MOST places in the U.S. don’t have public comment on Freeway noise”. But then, I wouldn’t consider living in a state like Michigan, one of the few states that DOES try to control every aspect of life. Even here in the “People’s Democratic Republic of Minnesota”–the urbanites of the Minneapolis area haven’t gone so far as to try to control noise–the State simply puts up the noise barriers you mention.
The rest of us simply choose NOT to live near a freeway–making the property cheaper to buy and benefiting those that DO INTENTIONALLY CHOOSE TO LIVE LIKE THAT. When government attempts to control TOO MANY aspects of life, people “vote with their feet” and move elsewhere. I see that Michigan, like Minnesota, has had another net loss of population. It’s yet another example of “The invisible hand of Adam Smith” (Capitalism) that they USED to teach in Elementary schools–the best interests of society are filled by people acting in their own self-interest–NOT big-government fiat.
The difference–those that choose to live near freeways expect that those of us that choose NOT to live there PAY for the noise mitigation–while we get nothing in return. Don’t worry, though, Capitalism will win in the end–the land will be cheap next to the freeways–you will be able to buy it cheap–and the only noise you will eventually hear is the sound of vehicles leaving the city for other states. With a declining population, your city may not even need an airport–the whole “airport noise problem” will be solved. As George Peppard said “I love it when a plan comes together!”
“the best interests of society are filled by people acting in their own self-interest”
Which is *exactly* what public comments are all about – the *people* acting in their own self-interest about issues that affect them.
Since you and I are both members of the public, we get to comment just as much as anyone else. If you read the article it has a link to post your own comment. Comments made there are certain to carry more weight than comments made here. Though be sure to read through the whole document before commenting – yes, that takes a little time and effort, but that’s the cost of being an informed citizen.
“MOST places in the U.S. don’t have public comment on Freeway noise”
Actually, every state has a place to comment on highway noise. Michigan was just at the top of the list when I searched. Minnesota is there, along with Texas, the Carolinas, Georgia, etc. Just Google “public comment highway noise”. Now, your search results will differ from mine as Google tailors what you see based upon where your computer is located and what you’ve searched for in the past. But chances are you’ll come across just as many public comment periods on highway noise as I have.
If you haven’t heard of this before then you may want to check and/or expand what sources you’re using for news and information. Especially local news. One of the biggest problems is the death of the local newspaper. That used to be a great “one-stop shop” for learning about events that will affect your locality – such as construction projects or noise studies. Without a local paper such items tend to go unnoticed by the general public. As a result, I find that a lot of outrage is someone finding out how something works for the first time.
Luckily we have AvWeb as a good source for keeping track of aviation news items that may affect us pilots.
Well said, Kirk.