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14 CFR PART 150 NOISE EXPOSURE MAP UPDATE

SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

PUBLIC WORKSHOP

OCTOBER 2020

Part 150 requires that members of the public have the opportunity to participate in the process, including providing comments

Overview – What is Part 150?

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*SAT’s current Part 150 Study only involves updating the NEMs and will help determine if a future NCP update is warranted

Established in 1985, Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 150 (14 CFR Part 150, or “Part 150”) provides a process for airport operators to address compatibility of aircraft operations with surrounding communities

Part 150 establishes the methodology to be followed when preparing aircraft noise exposure maps (NEMs) and developing airport/airport environs noise compatibility programs (NCPs)*

Part 150 is a voluntary process that helps airport operators become eligible for federal grant funds for approved airport noise programs

Overview – Part 150 NEM Update Study Goals and Objectives

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Determine existing and future noise

exposure and identify

noncompatible land uses

Identify areas of noncompatible noise exposure

and their potential

eligibility for noise

mitigation*

Educate community and stakeholders on

existing noise program and

regulatory environment

Enhance community

relationships through

transparency

Secure NEM finding of

compliance from the

Federal Aviation Administration

(FAA)

*The 2021 Baseline/Existing Conditions noise contours presented here will not be used to determine eligibility for future noise mitigation. Eligibility will be determined

using the 2026 Future Conditions noise contours, which will be presented to the public for review in early 2021.

Overview – Regulation of Airport Noise

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Federal Aviation Administration

Local Governments and States

Airport Operators/SAT

Framework Stakeholders

Federal law sets aircraft noise standards, prescribes operating rules, establishes the compatibility planning process, and limits an airport’s ability to restrict aircraft operations

State law sets forth compatibility planning guidelines and noise standards, but aircraft are exempt

Local noise ordinances set noise standards and provide for compatible land use planning, but aircraft are exempt

The FAA: (1) Controls aircraft while in flight; (2) Responsible for controlling noise at its source (i.e., aircraft engines); (3) Certifies aircraft and pilots

Local Governments and States: (1) Promote compatible land use through zoning; (2) Require real estate disclosure; (3) Mandate sound-insulating building materials

Airport Operators (SAT): (1) Very limited authority to adopt local restrictions; (2) Responsible for capital improvement projects and infrastructure

Overview – Noise Exposure Maps

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A noise contour depicts levels of equal aircraft noise exposure surrounding an airport

Part 150 requires documentation of the Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) 65, 70, and 75 contours

The Federal Aviation Administration considers all land uses to be compatible with aircraft noise below the DNL 65 contour

NEMs reflect the DNL contours presented over land use base maps

Overview – Noise Exposure Maps

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For this Part 150 Study, 2019 Airport operations were used to represent the 2021 Baseline operations. In consultation with the FAA, it was assumed that no growth in aircraft operations occurred between 2019 and 2021, given the global slowdown in aviation activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Base maps depict an airport’s layout, local land use control jurisdictions, major land use categories, noise-sensitive “receptors” and other information required by Part 150

Part 150 requires NEMs for the year of FAA submittal and a 5-year forecast; as such, this NEM Update will develop noise contours for:• 2021 Baseline Year• 2026 Future Conditions Year

Land use categories in this Part 150 Study reflect current and future development patterns around SAT

Overview – Noise Exposure Map Update Study Process

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24-hour time-weighted energy average noise level based on A-weighted decibels (dBA), which correlates well with the human hearing response

Physics of Noise – Day-Night Average Sound Level

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Average Annual Day aircraft noise exposure is calculated over a broad area and then depicted using contour lines of equal noise levels

Noise occurring between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is weighted by an additional 10 dB to account for the higher sensitivity to noise during nighttime hours and for the expected further decrease in background levels that typically occur in the nighttime

Reflects cumulative average day noise exposure for the purposes ofdetermining overall compatibility – not noise generated by a single event

The decibel (dB) is the unit used to describe sound pressure level and when expressed in dBA, it is weighted to account for human hearing

Physics of Noise – Understanding Sound Levels

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Maximum A-Weighted Sound Level (Lmax) is the maximum, or peak, sound level during a noise event

Sound Exposure Level (SEL) is a time integrated measure, expressed in decibels, of the sound energy of a single noise event at a reference duration of one second

Equivalent Noise Level (Leq) is the “energy” average noise level during the time period of the sample

DNL is expressed in dBA and represents the noise level over a 24-hour period

Physics of Noise – Cumulative Noise Exposure

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DNL represents cumulative noise exposure; therefore, a single loud (high SEL) noise event that occurs each day can have the same DNL level as multiple, quieter (low SEL) noise events over the same period of time

Noise Modeling – Methodology

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Inputs

Aviation Environmental

Design Tool Version 3c

Modeling Program

Noise Contour Results

Time of Day

Detailed Operations and

Fleet Mix

Runway Utilization

Meteorological conditions

Flight Track Locations and

Use

Terrain

Stage Length

Aircraft noise modeling allows

Noise Modeling – The Basics

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The Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) replaced the Integrated Noise Model (INM) when it was released

in 2015. The current version, AEDT 3c, will be

used for this Part 150 Study

Calculation of noise exposure throughout the

community

Depicting annual average aircraft noise

exposure

Predicting future aircraft

noise exposure

Assessing changes in noise impacts resulting

from runway configuration

changes

Assessing changes in fleet

mix and/or number of operations

Evaluating changes in operational procedures

The 14 CFR Part 150 process is the Airport’s mechanism to improve the compatibility between the Airport and surrounding communities

Compatible Land Use Planning

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Allows for the adoption of appropriate local

land use standards for land use compatibility

planning purposes

Deems levels below DNL 65 to be

compatible with all land uses

Table 1 in Appendix A of 14 CFR Part 150 provides regulatory

guidelines fornoise and

land use compatibility

2021 Baseline Land Use Map

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Please visit the Noise Office website for an opportunity to review this map as well as other materials associated with the NEM Update

Bexar County Appraisal District

2021 Baseline Land Use Map -- Data Sources

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Existing Land UseConvalescent\Nursing Facilities

Hospitals Places of Worship

National Park Service

City of San AntonioCity Corporate BoundaryHistoric DistrictsLocal Historic Landmarks

Park Boundaries Streets

Bexar County GIS Libraries Schools

Historic Resources (National Register)

San Antonio River Authority

Texas Historical Commission

U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. Geological Survey

Existing Land Use (supplemental)Future Land Use

Military Installations Suburban City Limits

State Historic Landmarks

County Boundaries Highways and Major Roads

Rivers and Streams Water Bodies

SAT’s Noise Program

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2009 2012 2015 2017 2020

Part 150 Study NEM Update

Part 150 Study NEM and NCP Update

Current Part 150 NEM Update

Obtained AvigationEasements

New Noise Monitoring System Installed

1991

First Part 150 Study

Accepted by FAA and Noise

Program Begins at SAT

Established: Noise Abatement Officer, Noise

Abatement Advisory Committee, and Pilot Advisory Committee

Noise Complaint Monitoring Program

Urge greater use of Stage 3 aircraft Land Use and Zoning Plan Voluntary Use Noise Abatement

Departure Procedure Restrictions on Nighttime Engine

Run-ups Acoustical Treatment for Public

Buildings Real Estate Noise Disclosure

Part 150 Study NEM and NCP Update Residential

Acoustical Treatment Program (RATP) (2006 –2020)

GRE constructed

Part 150 Study NCP Update Ground Run-

Up Enclosure (GRE) recommended to reduce noise related to engine run-ups

Permanent noise monitoring system

1997

2002

SAT’s Noise Program

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Sample Flight Tracks Over SAT

NOMS allows the Airport community to… View actual flight tracks and noise levels File noise complaints Understand flight patterns

12 permanent noise monitoring terminals (NMT) located around the Airport

Analyze flight tracks, complaints and noise levels

Noise data integrated with FAA air traffic control tower radar data

Noise and Operations Monitoring System (NOMS)

More information can be found at:https://flysanantonio.com/business/about-saas/environmental-stewardship/noise-programs/

Noise Monitoring Terminal Locations

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2021 Annual Aircraft Operations

2021 Baseline - Aircraft Operations and Time of Day

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2021 Annual Aircraft Operations by Time of Day

Aircraft Category Operations

Widebody 4,287

Narrowbody 83,886

Regional Jet 20,666

Business Jet 26,756

Turboprop 15,301

Prop 10,219

Helicopter 2,756

Total 163,870Note: An aircraft operation is equal to one arrival/landing or one departure/takeoff.The total number does not add up due to rounding.Source: SAT, 2019. Environmental Science Associates, 2020.

Arrivals Departures

Day Night Day Night82.74% 17.26% 83.99% 16.01%

Note: An aircraft operation is equal to one arrival/landing or one departure/takeoff.Source: SAT, 2019. Environmental Science Associates, 2020.

2021 Baseline - Aircraft Departure Stage Length

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Stage Length

Category

Departure Route Length (nautical

miles)

Departures fromSAT

1 0 - 500 55.455%

2 501 – 1,000 32.855%

3 1,001 - 1,500 10.935%

4 1,501 - 2,500 0.733%

5 2,501 - 3,500 0.001%

6 3,501 - 4,500 0.016%

7 4,501 - 5,500 0.004%

8 5,501 - 6,500 0.002%Source: Environmental Science Associates, 2020.

Note: Values may not add to 100% due to rounding. No aircraft flew a departure stage length greater than 8.

Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) Departure Stage Length Categories Stage Length Comparison for Boeing 747-400

Stage length is the distance an airplane flies directly from one airport to another

2021 Baseline – Daytime Runway Utilization

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2021 Baseline – Nighttime Runway Utilization

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2021 Baseline - AEDT Flight Tracks – Runway 4

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Draft for deliberative purposes only and subject to change

2021 Baseline - AEDT Flight Tracks – Runway 22

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Draft for deliberative purposes only and subject to change

2021 Baseline - AEDT Flight Tracks – Runways 13L and 13R

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Draft for deliberative purposes only and subject to change

2021 Baseline - AEDT Flight Tracks – Runways 31L and 31R

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Draft for deliberative purposes only and subject to change

2021 Baseline - DNL 65, 70, and 75 Contours

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The draft 2021 Baseline noise contours are for deliberative purposes only, are subject to change, and will not be used to determine eligibility for future noise mitigation efforts

2014 Baseline and 2021 Baseline DNL 65 Contours

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The draft 2021 Baseline DNL 65 contour is for deliberative purposes only, is subject to change, and will not be used to determine eligibility for future noise mitigation

efforts

Next Steps

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Review community stakeholder comments relative to the assumptions used in the noise modeling

Identify populations and noise-sensitive structures located within the DNL 65 contour

Develop the 2026 Future Conditions airport activity forecast and the 2026 Future Conditions noise contours

Conduct 2nd

Public Workshop

Prepare and circulate the Noise Exposure Map Update Report for public review

Submit NEM Update Report to the FAA

Spring 2021Early 2021

Early 2021Late 2020

Fall 2020Fall 2020

All formal comments on the NEM Update effort will become part of the official study record and must be submitted to the SAT Noise Office by 5pm November 13, 2020, via either email or regular mail.

Email (submitted by 5pm):

AirportNoiseHotline@sanantonio.gov

Regular Mail (postmarked by 5pm):

San Antonio International Airport457 Sandau RoadBuilding 1039Attn: Environmental StewardshipSan Antonio, TX 78216

Comments or Questions?

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