Airports Urge Additional Measures to Enhance Community Noise Mitigation

ACI-NA Testifies Before House Transportation Subcommittee

CONTACT:
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org (202) 293-4537
Megan Miller, mmiller@aci-na.org, (202) 861-8080

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON (October 24, 2007) – On behalf of  U.S. airports, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Executive Vice President, Policy and External Affairs, Deborah C. McElroy testified during the October 24 House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation hearing "Aviation and the Environment: Noise."

McElroy urged Congress to consider that development of new flight procedures and the attendant environmental study be eligible for funding under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP), even when the procedures are not detailed in an airport's Part 150 noise mitigation plan. ACI-NA also supported more stringent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) noise standards for newly certificated aircraft and better use of noise programs tailored to the unique airport noise mitigation problems to more effectively address community concerns.

"Airport directors have taken proactive steps to better understand and mitigate environmental impacts, especially aviation noise in their local communities. Airports are also working with local citizens, organizations, governments and elected officials to develop procedures and programs to reduce noise," McElroy testified.

Many airports are mitigating noise through FAA's Airport Noise Compatibility Program which promotes comprehensive airport noise planning and mitigation. This voluntary program provides airports with funds to help local communities soundproof residences, schools and hospitals, and conduct land use and zoning studies, design noise abatement procedures and other strategies.

McElroy also thanked the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for including numerous provisions in the recently passed H.R. 2881, the "Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007," that will further assist airports in addressing the impact of aviation noise, including the phase out of Stage 2 aircraft less than 75,000 pounds, the "Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program", the "CLEEN Engine and Airframe Technology Partnership", and funding for the Airport Cooperative Research Program, which provides research to further mitigate the impacts of noise to airport communities.

View ACI-NA's testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee.

About ACI-NA:
The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities. ACI-NA represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.