Noise Mitigation

Noise Abatement and Land Acquisition/Relocation Office
Noise Mitigation Office (504) 465-2345
Noise Hotline (504) 464-3545
To file a noise complaint on-line Click Here
 

Noise Remedy/Sound Insulation Program

Noise Abatement Program
There are several components of the New Orleans International Airport Noise Abatement Program.  Together they reduce the number of residents severely impacted by aircraft noise.  The components include: upgrading of aircraft engines, the Land Acquisition and Relocation Program, Residential Sound Insulation Program, and the use of noise abatement aircraft operational procedures.

Land Acquisition/Relocation Program

For more information on Land Acquisition for Public Airports, click here.
 

Residential Sound Insulation
The first phase for sound insulation will be for residences located directly under the extended runway center-line, closest to the airport.  Later phases will extend further along the center-line, and expand away from the centerline of the runway.

FAA financial support requires the interior noise reduction to be at least 5 dB and noise insulation should achieve a required DNL of 45 dB (or less) in all habitable rooms.

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Am I Eligible?
Noise exposure maps, both of current and future conditions, show how much aircraft noise is experienced on an annual basis.  This is the boundary that defines which residential neighborhoods qualify for sound insulation or purchase.

These maps are produced by using a specialized computer model adopted by the FAA known as the Integrated Noise Model. These "contour" maps define bands or contours of noise impact around an airport.   Noise exposure maps illustrate where various intensities of aircraft noise are experienced.

Contours are calculated by defining the number and type of aircraft, engine type, runway used, the time flights occur, and flight profile.  Flights occurring between 10 PM and 7 AM are given a ten decibel penalty to account for increased annoyance during traditional sleep hours.  This data is compiled into annual average noise levels known as DNL (Day Night Level).  The FAA defines "noise impacted" as levels above 65 DNL.  A noise map will show contours at 65, 70, and 75 DNL.

Federal guidelines allow the airport to request FAA funds for "noise impacted" residential neighborhoods.  Sound insulation is offered in blocks exposed to 65 DNL and 70 DNL.  Above 75 DNL is considered not compatible for residential use , and families are eligible for relocation.  Residents within 75 DNL will not be offered sound insulation, only relocation.

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Federal Aviation Regulations
Part 91.3(a)..(Subpart A)
Pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.

Part 91.129(h)..(Subpart B)
Where a formal runway use program has been established by the FAA...consistent with the final authority of the pilot in command, in Part 91.3(a), ATC may assign a different runway if requested by the pilot in the interest of safety.

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I Have Questions about Land Acquisition or Sound Insulation?
Land Acquisition or Sound Insulation's questions should be addressed to the Program Manager at (504) 465-8802.

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What is a Part 150 Study?
The full name of this study is an FAR Part 150 (Federal Aviation Regulation Part 150) Aircraft Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study.  This study will consider and evaluate possible ways to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on neighborhoods around New Orleans International Airport and will work with communities to limit the growth of residential populations within high aircraft noise areas.  The study will identify existing noise levels, predict future noise levels, evaluate noise abatement and land use alternatives and recommend those actions which realistically can be expected to reduce the number of people affected by aircraft noise.  An approved study will not shift air traffic to move noise from one neighborhood to another.  New Orleans International Airport has a comprehensive set of noise abatement procedures from a Part 150 Study completed in 1987.  The FAA has invested over sixty million dollars in relocation of families and plans to sound insulate several neighborhoods in the next decade.  We expect to have a completed Update to the Part 150 Study in 2002.

Study Elements:

1. Inventory of existing condition
2. Existing and future noise impacts
3. Future land use alternatives
4. Construction
5. Public comment
6. Recommended compatibility plan
7. FAA approval

Study Recommendations:
The ultimate purpose of the Study is to produce recommendations to be taken by the FAA, the municipalities, and the airlines which individually or in combination reduce the number of residents impacted by aircraft noise.  Recommendations will cover a range of issues from aircraft ground noise heard by residents living close to the airport to flight profiles which might benefit those at a greater distance.  Other issues to be addressed will be boundaries of sound insulation and local land use regulations which preclude future non-compatible development in areas exposed to aircraft noise.

Public Involvement:
The Part 150 Study Update has an extensive public participation process with committees of area residents, airport users, and public officials.  Public comments will be solicited.  Briefings and a variety of public information materials, including noise contours, will be circulated at intervals throughout the Study Update.
A standing Noise Compatibility Committee was established in 1987 by the existing Part 150.   The majority of the voting representatives have been selected by St. Charles and Jefferson Parish Councils, and the Kenner City Council.

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How do I file a Noise Complaint?
The NOIA has a 24-hour hotline (504) 464-3545 that should be used to file aircraft noise complaint(s).  The noise hotline is a voice recorded with several pre-recorded questions.  The caller should answer all questions accurately and completely to insure data collection.

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What Happens to My Complaint?
First, the noise hotline is transcribed into a computer database.   The information is then reviewed and correlated to determine the location and time of the event.

Second, an acknowledgement card is generated and mailed to the person(s) filing the noise complaint.

Third, a staff member of the noise mitigation office may call the person(s) filing the complaint to verify information and explain published flight procedures.

Fourth, the information collected from the noise hotline will be presented to the Noise Compatibility Committee at their next scheduled meeting. 

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What is Stage 3?
U.S. and International Stage 3 Certification is a formula measuring aircraft noise based on aircraft weight and number of engines.  The heavier the aircraft, the more noise allowed.

The Airport Noise and Capacity Act (49 U.S.C. 47501) mandates revenue producing jet aircraft, over 75,000 pounds, in the contiguous United States, must comply with federally accepted noise standards.  All aircraft utilizing New Orleans International Airport meet these requirements.

To achieve this mandate, some of the older jets are using acoustic treatments or operating restrictions to qualify as Stage 3 Compliant.  It should be noted several models of jets are barely Stage 3 Compliant, while newer fan jets will meet future reduced noise thresholds.

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Noise Abatement Program
Land Acquisition/Relocation Program
Residential Sound Insulation
Am I Eligible?
Do "Flight Patterns" Change?
Airport Operations
Federal Aviation Regulations
Questions about Land Acquisition or Sound Insulation
Landing Procedures
Take-Off Procedures
Over Flight of Residential Property
How do I file a Noise Complaint?
What Happens to My Complaint?
What is Stage 3?
What is a Part 150 Study?
Land Use
How are these Programs Funded?
NCC Meetings
NCC Members

Do "Flight Patterns" Change?
New Orleans International Airport has two perpendicular jet runways.   The North/South runway is oriented approximately 10 degrees magnetic heading north, or the opposite direction is 190 degrees south, thus the runway is referred to as "1/19 (one, one nine)."  The East/West runway points 100 degrees magnetic heading to the East with the opposite end oriented 280 degrees magnetic heading to the west, thus this runway is referred to as "10/28 (ten/two eight)."

Depending on wind, weather, and the air traffic, the jets will use any of these four runways for operations.  Wind direction is the driving force behind the decision on which runway to use, because the aircraft should takeoff and land into the wind for the safest operations.  Avoiding difficult weather and other air traffic is also important.

The New Orleans area has general weather patterns for different seasons.  In the cooler months, weather is typically fair, with weather systems coming from the northwest.   When this occurs, the airport operates to the north.  This means aircraft takeoff towards the Lake on Runway 01.  The opposite is true for the summer months.   Typically summer weather has daily thunderstorms with hot moist air coming from the Gulf of Mexico.  This means the Airport operates to the south on Runway 19 or to the east on Runway 10.  These seasonal shifts in operating flow lead many people to believe that a change in "flight patterns" has occurred, when in fact they have not.

Departing aircraft tracks over the ground also vary from day to day.  Ground tracks will depend on a number of factors such as wind drift, the pilot's techniques in keeping the wings level, weather conditions, and aircraft separation.  The safe and efficient handling of air traffic requires that procedures remain stable, but also flexible enough for pilots and air traffic controllers to respond to changing conditions.

Departure procedures from MSY have not changed since the mid 1980's

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Airport Operations
This chart shows flight operations reported by the FAA New Orleans Air Traffic Control.

Landing Procedures
Weather and traffic permitting (aircraft separation, weather avoidance, and safe flight operations) the following landing procedures are required for all runways:   Turbojet aircraft must be established on final approach no closer than 5 miles from the end of the runway.  Aircraft will turn close to the airport to avoid reported bird activity.

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Take-Off Procedures
Weather and traffic permitting, the following departure procedures are authorized.  These flight tested procedures apply to large airline jets and have been in place since 1986.  Smaller jets, propeller and military aircraft are not bound by these procedures:

NORTH - jet aircraft departing Runway 01 will fly runway heading until leaving 3,000 feet.

EAST - jet aircraft departing Runway 10 will fly runway heading until leaving 3,000 feet.

SOUTH - jet aircraft departing Runway 19 will fly runway heading until leaving 2,000 feet.

WEST - jet aircraft departing Runway 28 will turn no further right than 330 degrees, or no further left than 250 degrees until leaving 3,000 feet.  Aircraft bound southeast may be allowed an unrestricted left turn.

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Over Flight of Residential Property
The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for the use of airspace.  MSY does not have standard instrument departures, and there is no prohibited or restricted airspace within 30 miles.  No area is exempt from over flight.

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Land Use
Most large U.S. airports are located within, or adjacent to, municipalities different from that of the sponsor.  A major concern of airports is the inability to prevent incompatible land uses.  These concerns reinforce the need for airports and communities to work as partners to find reasonable and equitable solutions for land use.   The land use portion of the Part 150 Study includes inventory of existing conditions.  Residential neighborhoods, commercial property, recreational areas, schools, and hospitals are identified.  Future activities in the surrounding municipalities are catalogued, including pending developments, growth management, and other changes which may affect populations exposed to aircraft noise.

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How are these Programs Funded?
The various programs described on this page are funded through grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Noise Compatibility Committee Meetings
Regular meetings are held quarterly, on the 3rd Tuesday of January, April, July, and October.  Meetings start at 7:00pm in the Aviation Board Room located in the West Lobby of the Airport

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NCC Members
The following members are appointees for their respective districts.

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