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A quarterly publication of the Metropolitan Airports Commission - Aviation Noise and Satellite Programs
MSP NOISE NEWS Cooperative Efforts Result in Better Adherence to RUS Merriam Webster’s Collegiate dictionary defines the word cooperation as “the association of persons for common benefit.” That’s an apt way to describe what recently transpired between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the City of Eagan, MSP Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) members and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC).
Background Discussions began at the September 2007 NOC meeting regarding concerns from some Eagan residents about the number of flights taking off Runway 17 to the southeast during nighttime hours at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport(MSP). It seemed to residents living in this populated central portion of the city that the airport’s Runway Use System (RUS) was not being implemented during the 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. timeframe, as would have been expected. Some of the planes taking off
in that direction, the City representative noted, could have just as easily taken off over the industrial and commercial areas of Eagan, off Runways 12R and 12(when conditions allow, this is the preferred choice for takeoffs).
The issue had also been highlighted earlier in the year when Eagan’s mayor, Mike Maguire, sent a letter to the NOC requesting that the group “examine the feasibility of moving more nighttime traffic from Runway 17 (particularly from the 120 degree heading) to Runway 12R when demand allows.”
Resolution After several months of
analysis and discussion at NOC meetings, and between the MAC, the City and the FAA, in November the NOC sent a letter to the FAA requesting that the airport’s ATC supervisors continue to be briefed on the importance of maximizing adherence to the approved RUS during nighttime hours. In response, in early December, the FAA reported that all supervisors had been re-briefed as of November 29. Subsequently, an analysis performed in early January showed a significant drop in the number of planes taking off Runway 17(when the airport was operating in a southeast flow) during the nighttime hours. In fact, from November 30 through December 28, 2007 only one plane (0.1%) took off from Runway 17 between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. when the airport was operating in a southeast flow. This compares to 134 (33.5%) takeoffs in July 2007.♦
Winter 2008
Volume 7, Issue 1
Runways 12L and 12R are preferred for nighttime takeoffs at MSP.
Page 2 MSP Noise News
The MSP Noise Oversight Committee met January 16. At that meeting,
representatives discussed several old and new items.
New Residential Sound Insulation Program
Members received an update on progress to date for establishing a schedule for the next phase of the residential sound insulation program (see page 3).
Nighttime Runway Use
Technical advisor, Chad Leqve, noted the increased adherence to the airport’s Runway Use System during nighttime hours
(see page 1).
Voluntary Nighttime Agreement with Airport Operators
An updated agreement that asks carriers to limit scheduling all flights during MSP nighttime hours, and specifically to limit operating or scheduling of “hushkitted” aircraft during nighttime hours, has been sent to airline operators. Responses are now being received.
Low Frequency Noise Study
Members received an update regarding the PARTNER’s Low Frequency Noise Initiative, noting that the FAA
Q. How does sound infiltrate a home? A. Sound travels from the exterior to the interior of a home in two ways: through solid structural
elements and through the air. While sound energy in the form of vibrations can be deflected by solid structural elements (walls) of a home, some of those vibrations can make it through the walls and into a home. Openings in a home, such as space around windows and doors, mail slots and vents, allow air to travel directly from the exterior to the interior of a home. Wherever air can infiltrate a home, so also can sound. Windows generally allow more noise inside a home than do walls. Because of this, the more space windows take up on a wall the more the overall noise protection decreases. Using acoustical windows typically does more to improve sound insulation performance than any other design modification in a home.♦
Ask the Expert
had not yet determined what, if anything, can or should be done to homes to mitigate impact.
Next Meeting
The next NOC meeting will be held Wednesday, March 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the MAC General Offices.
For more information, call 612-725-6455 or visit http://www.macnoise.com/noc.
NOC Meeting Materials
Meeting materials (agendas, minutes, memos and presentations) can be accessed on the MAC website at http://www.mspairport.com/mac/meetings/noc.aspx, or call 612-725-6455.♦
NOC News
Page 3 Volume 7, Issue 1
with full scale construction activities starting no later than November 2008.
Homeowner orientation meetings help homeowners understand the design and construction process and program timelines.
As with the previous program, the Center for Energy and Environment will manage the program in consultation with MAC staff.
“CEE is uniquely qualified to act as consultant on this program,” said John Nelson, MAC’s project manager. “The
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is preparing to move ahead with the next phase of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport’s sound insulation program.
Under a preliminary schedule, which is subject to change, homeowner pre indoor air quality testing and orientation meetings will begin in April,
company’s previous experience at MSP means the program can move forward quickly and in accordance with the settlement agreement.”
“Block prioritization” maps have been created for each city—Minneapolis, Bloomington, Richfield, Inver Grove Heights and Eagan. All eligible homes within the 63 and 64 DNL noise contours are expected to be completed by December 2009.
Find out if your home qualifies for the program by visiting: www.macnoise.com/sip.♦
Residential Sound Insulation Program Set to Resume
has agreed to delay the work until the fall of 2009. The airlines’ request is due in part to uncertainty in the industry and the effort involved in getting air traffic procedures in place.
During the two-month reconstruction period, the north parallel runway will be closed. Operations that would typically use that runway will be redirected to the three remaining runways at MSP, similar to the 2007 project.
MAC staff, the Federal Aviation Administration and the airlines are in the midst of working out the details for the 2009 project.
Information about how air traffic patterns will be affected during construction will likely be available in early 2009.♦
Reconstruction of the north parallel runway (Runway 12L/30R) at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is now being planned to occur in 2009.
A 2008 schedule was originally contemplated in 2007 when the south parallel runway (Runway 12R/30L) was being reconstructed. However, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), at the request of the affected airlines,
Runway Reconstruction Project Planned for 2009
6040 28th Avenue S. Minneapolis, MN 55450
Phone: 612-725-6455 Noise Complaint Line: 612-726-9411 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.macnoise.com
MSP NOISE NEWS
A quarterly publication of the Metropolitan Airports Commission - Aviation Noise and Satellite Programs
Winter 2008
If you no longer wish to receive this publication, and other airport noise related information, please call or e-mail Christene Sirois at 612-725-6455 or [email protected]. In your e-mail, please write the word “delete” in the subject line, followed by your street address and city.
Please join Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) staff at the next Airport Noise Public Input Meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the MAC’s General Offices located at 6040 28th Avenue South in Minneapolis. This is an opportunity for residents to ask questions and learn more about what’s new at MSP in terms of airport noise.
For more information, please contact Christene Sirois at 612-725-6455 or [email protected]. ♦
Public Input Meeting Scheduled for April 22
Cooperative Efforts Result in Better Adherence to RUS
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NOC News 2 Ask the Expert 2 Sound Insulation Program Set to Begin Again
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Runway Reconstruction Project Planned for 2009
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Inside this issue:
