Noise. Take the Time to Listen.
Like many airports around the nation, Westerly Airport has noise concerns voiced by the community. With humble beginnings as a grass strip the novelty and fascination of flight drew friends and neighbors. With its transformation into an Auxiliary Air Field by the military for WWII, community support was never a question, but with aviation’s growth and solid foundation in our daily lives some neighbors view us differently today. Listening to your community concerns and taking steps to change or modify flying habits can improve local relations.
Despite our continued fascination with flight many airport neighbors consider flight an unnecessary annoyance. They will cite low flying aircraft, loud noise and the continued droning associated with engine run-ups. With the evolution of aviation, flying is commonplace today and for some living near the airport they feel like they are living next to a limited access highway. Winning the support of neighbors is not easy, but a little change on our part can go a long way in improving their perception, our impact and improve relations.
Some pilots will say it is not their concern and others will say the neighbors should have never built their houses so close to the airport. Well it is our concern. And as for our neighbors that built around the airport many of the homes were built before local legislators enacted rules regarding construction in the vicinity of the airport. The new local oversight regulates construction that could impact the protected airspace outlined in CFR Part 77 around Westerly. Does your community have any legislation in place to protect your airport?
Like any industry or hobby we must adapt to the ever-changing environment we operate in. Before 9/11 we flew pretty much as we pleased, but since that fateful day we now abide by a new set of rules. It wasn’t easy during the transition, but everyone has survived the change. Environmental Awareness and Green is forefront in the minds of many in the nation and noise is center stage around airports. Noise concerns voiced at our airport is no different. We must acknowledge the neighbors’ complaints and begin the process of making changes to our everyday flight activities to mitigate their concerns. Many airports already have voluntary or mandatory noise abatement procedures in place. Many of these airports have control towers, so compliance is a given, however for the non-towered airports it is up to you to follow procedures when established if the voluntary system is to work.
When a noise study occurs at your airport it should be a wake up call for pilots. Noise studies are not cheap and it means there is community involvement behind it. It means changes may occur and mandatory procedures could evolve. If your airport has grown significantly to warrant mandatory actions you will have to live with it, but if you become pro-active when noise complaints are received by your airport you might be able to delay the mandatory procedures through voluntary noise abatement practices.
Many noise complaints we receive can be linked to a non standard practice. A pilot will make an early turn out rather than the standard traffic pattern procedure and pass over homes at a lower altitude. Another pilot elected to operate at an altitude lower than standard for the traffic pattern generating new complaints, because his pattern is lower and closer to the airport. Some complaints are for helicopters, which abbreviate the pattern or fly no pattern and fly low over houses as they transition to and from the airport.
What can you do for the airport to keep the status quo? The airport should share community noise concerns with the local pilots; however, do not share the names of the complainants to prevent direct intervention by pilots. The airport management is the liaison between the community and airport users. Pilots should respect the validity of the complaint and work with airport management to resolve the issue. If the pilot action was warranted the airport will stand behind you. If not the pilot needs to change his or her practices to prevent future complaints.
If voluntary practices are put in place and noted by signage you should respect and comply with the procedure. Many voluntary procedures are as simple as a “Best Rate of Climb Straight Out Departure,” which moves the aircraft out of the noise sensitive area much faster. A “No Intersection Departure” asks the pilot to use full length, which keeps the aircraft higher over noise sensitive areas along the extended departure leg. Changing the location of run-ups helps to eliminate excessive noise traditionally generated at the approach end of the runway where homes abut airport property. The fore mentioned examples are voluntarily implemented at Westerly Airport and have reduced some of our complaints.
It is important to note that no procedure is ever binding with respect to safety. Pilots may deviate from a procedure at anytime for safety when aircraft performance is compromised. Safety of flight always comes first. Economics should not be used as an excuse to deviate from a voluntary procedure either. Those who cite economics for deviation are only kidding themselves and hurting everyone who has supported airport noise concerns by following voluntary noise abatement procedures. Pilots should make every effort to fly the traffic pattern as depicted. Be at the recommended traffic pattern altitude, not lower. Doing so will reduce noise complaints.
We may never be able to please every neighbor, but positive progress can only be achieved when pilots follow voluntary noise abatement procedures every time they fly. When traveling, open the Airport Facility Directory and look at the remarks for noise abatement concerns or procedures. Taking care of your home airport is important, because you do the most flying there, but respecting procedures at all the airports you travel to shows a positive approach to the ever-growing concerns of noise at our general aviation airports. If that little bear on the back of that yellow cub could talk he might just be saying, “Only you can reduce noise complaints!”
By James Cowley