Aircraft Systems and Flight

          When researching about environmental issues that have presented the greatest concerns and impact on airports, I find it hard to describe only one. In my opinion, the primary environmental issues associated with the operation of airports are greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, noise pollution, land utilization, waste, and congestion. For this discussion I will only talk about the environmental issues of aircraft noises, what are some of the solutions available in addressing those environmental issues, and how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Nation Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have dealt with these environmental issues. 

The Main Concern:

          The anticipated growth in air travel has heightened the significance and complexity of some environmental regulatory issues with noise being one of them. Noise, which can be defined as any unwanted sound, can cause profound negative effects on humans’ health and their physical, psychological, and social well- being and quality of life. Since the emergence of the aviation industry, aircraft noise has been one of the most important sources of excessive noise generated by human activities. This may also have a negative impact on the quality of life and property values of members of a surrounding community. In the last 35 years, the noise pollution has significantly reduced by the advancements in aircraft technologies and noise abatement effects (Luther, 2007). Nevertheless, aircraft noise has continued as of today to be a significant problems because 

• The amount of air traffic is growing
• The number of airliners and corporate jets is increasing, and
• Airline traffic and noise is concentrated at a small number of airports that are also likely to be among the largest airports.

• To describe the effects of environmental noise in a simple, uniform and appropriate way, the day-night average sound level (DNL) noise metric is used. 
• FAA has adopted DNL 65 dBA as the threshold of significant noise exposure

The Policy:

          The FAA has issued the Order 1050.1F Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures on July 16, 2015. This order serves as the FAA's policy and procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (FAA, 2022). One part of the Oder 1050.1F defines that in the context of noise from airplanes and helicopters, noise sensitive areas include such areas within the DNL 65 dB noise contour. Other policies and legislations that include noise pollutions are: 

• Appendix A of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Airport Noise Planning, Land Use Compatibility Guidelines 

• Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• The Federal Interagency Committee on Noise (FICON)

• Noise control Act of 1972

The FAA strives to reduce noise in ways within our purview, including conducting noise research and working with aviation stakeholders and local communities.

The Solution:

          The FAA is limited by the simple reality that aircraft make noise. Addressing this concern requires collaboration among the FAA, air carriers, airports, aircraft manufacturers, research universities, other stakeholders and industry partners, local communities, and elected officials.          To further address these environmental issues with noise pollutions, airports may be required to implement projects that would minimize the environmental impacts of their operations (Sameh & Scavuzzi, 2016). These projects had qualified for federal funding, which in 2008, the FAA requested $354 million to meet its “Environmental Stewardship” goals. This project had addressed the environmental issue of noise pollution that had impacted the communities surrounding the airports by: 

• Soundproofing the homes

• Purchasing noise barriers and monitors

• Relocating certain person or business

• Authorized for researching new aircraft technology that would reduce the noise

With respect to the problem of excessive noise in the vicinity of airports, airport operators can reduce aircraft noise emissions by: 

• Reducing the number of people that are exposed to excessive noise levels 

• Help local community receive the airport’s plans and activities 

• Urban planning, 

• Applying new technologies and designs, and restricting operation of aircraft types

• Frequency of flights and night-time flights, 

• Planning and managing land use, and 

• Redistributing noise by managing runways and routes

Expand soundproofing programs to all homes, churches, schools, hospitals, and commercial businesses experiencing a day/night average of greater than 55 dBA from airports. Eventually, all sensitive properties–homes, churches, schools, day care, hospitals, etc.–should be protected against indoor single event readings exceeding 45 dBA with windows open. Insulation and soundproofing alone, however, is not the solution because it neglects outdoor noise. Insulation does not provide for the full enjoyment of common and private property. However, at least it protects people inside their homes (Noise Free America, 2017).

Research and Programs:

The FAA has a robust research program that will both understand and ease the impacts of the aviation noise on the communities. A few examples of those research programs and organizations that the FAA have work with include: 

• Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) - a software system that models aircraft performance in space and time to estimate fuel consumption, noise, emissions, and air quality consequences.

• Airport Cooperative Research Program and ASCENT Cent of Excellence - supported research to understand the impacts of aviation noise on health, sleep, and children's learning. 

• Continuous Lower Emissions Energy and Noise (CLEEN) Program - the development of technologies to reduce noise and emissions while improving energy efficiency.

• Volpe Transportation Center - is a center of transportation and logistics expertise, operating under the United States Department of Transportation.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research. 

• Other government agency through a variety of forums that include the FICAN

Support quieter and cleaner aircraft technology (called Stage IV). Stage IV technology may be years away, and in the future, aircraft may achieve smaller reductions in pollution, both in terms of air and noise pollution. Therefore, Stage IV technology should not be relied upon as the main solution to aircraft pollution. Nevertheless, technological improvements should be aggressively pursued (Noise Free America, 2017).

References: 

Federal Aviation Administration. (2022). Noise FAA. FAA. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/environ_policy_guidance/policy/faa_nepa_order

Luther. (2007). Environmental Impacts of Airport Operations, Maintenance, and Expansion. FAS. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL33949.pdf

Noise Free America: A Coalition to Promote Quiet. (2017, December 17). Airplane Noise. https://noisefree.org/sources-of-noise/airplane-noise/

Sameh & Scavuzzi. (2016, July). Environmental Sustainability Measures for Airports. Mcgill. https://www.mcgill.ca/iasl/files/iasl/vii_sustainability_and_environmental_protection_measures_for_airports_final.pdf