MORRISTOWN, N.J.,
Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Neighbors of busy airports
across the country are a step closer to getting relief from aircraft noise,
based on legislation introduced by
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). In the
closing days of the 109th Congress, he sponsored the Aircraft Noise Reduction
Act of 2006, a measure that gives aircraft owners of older, noisier Stage 2
aircraft three years to either discontinue their use or upgrade them to meet
Stage 3 standards.
"Senator Lautenberg's efforts send an important message to airports,
aircraft owners and airport neighbors that the impacts of these aircraft can
no longer be tolerated," said John Lindemann, campaign coordinator for the
national organization "Sound Initiative, a Coalition for Quieter Skies."
"S.4109 lays important groundwork for this issue to be considered when the
new Congress convenes in January. Congress has an opportunity to finish what
it started when it ordered airlines to retire older, noisier aircraft in
1990."
The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 gave the operators of Stage 1
and Stage 2 aircraft weighing more than 75 thousand pounds a ten-year window
during which to either retrofit them to Stage 3 standards or otherwise remove
them from their fleets. The Act excluded aircraft weighing 75 thousand pounds
or less, an effort that was designed to protect the nation's corporate and
private-use aircraft because a much larger percentage of them were operating
at the time.
"In the 15 years since ANCA was passed, advanced technologies have
provided aircraft owners with new, quieter and more efficient options that
provide measurable improvement for people living near airports," Lindemann
added. Estimates show that approximately 1,000 to 1,300 Stage 2 aircraft are
still in operation out of a fleet ten times that size, but they account for an
inordinate percentage of noise complaints at some of the nation's busiest
airports, many of which are located in densely populated areas.
Using one of the coalition's member airports as an example, New Jersey's
Morristown Municipal Airport, Lindemann noted that neighborhood complaints
related to Stage 2 aircraft account for up to 80 percent of complaints lodged
with the airport.
"Tenants at many of these airports have replaced their outdated aircraft
with newer, quieter models. The complaints occur when transient Stage 2
aircraft arrive and depart," said Lindemann. "All the efforts by the airport
to maintain good relationships with neighbors becomes meaningless with the
actions of a few."
Sound Initiative was formed by airport owners and operators to address the
Stage 2 issue in response to noise complaints by neighbors. Its membership
includes airports, local government and airport neighbors who hope to gain
congressional action as outlined in Lautenberg's S.4109.
Lindemann noted that his coalition will continue to work with Senator
Lautenberg and his colleagues stating that Sound Initiative will secure
additional support among the airport community and airport neighbors in an
effort to encourage bi-partisan support for a newly introduced measure next
year.
"The methods airports use to mitigate aircraft noise are limited to the
tools given them by the Federal Aviation Administration -- and there aren't
many," said Lindemann. "While not a panacea, phasing out older, less
efficient and louder aircraft from the skies is a real, and realistic,
solution that will improve the environment for airport neighbors across the
country."
For more information about Sound Initiative and a pdf file of the December
7, 2006 Congressional Record containing Senator Lautenberg's statement and
bill, please visit www.soundinitiative.org.
Or visit the government website for the Congressional Record by copying
and pasting the below URL into your browser:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2006_record&page=S11504&position=all
Print This Page
Email This Page
Archives
Copyright Permissions
