7.2 The Airport and the Environment

For the topic of airport environmental impact, it would be easy to jump on either water or air pollution. But a unique and most popularly controversial impact regarding the airport and surrounding environment is noise pollution.

I know this is likely to be the most popular opinion for this topic, but for good reason. While the actual health impact of noise pollution is difficult to calculate, the overall impact to the local/surrounding community can be very easy to determine. According to an April 2007 Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report for Congress regarding Environmental Impacts of Airport Operations, Maintenance, and Expansion, "aircraft noise is often the principal focus for community groups and larger non-governmental organizations that oppose runway expansion." It can even cause people to act in ways they may not normally act. As a more local to me example, the Aircraft Noise and Operations Report 2014 Annual Summary for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport records that in 1998 there were 3,444 total calls regarding noise complaints. There is a double asterisk next to this number, which explains that 1,845 of those calls were made by just one person!

There are a variety of strategies to mitigate this inherent byproduct of air travel, but the most effective methods are usually taken into consideration during airport planning, such as airfield layout and land use restrictions. These will ensure (at least before land is developed near the airfield) that the most minimal impact is achieved. After a time, mitigation practices such as sound barriers, and terrain/land buffers may become necessary. Operational considerations such as runway restrictions during certain times of the day or certain airfield hours of operation are another way for airport managers to "stay neighborly." Technological advancements in aircraft engine/airframe design can help, but is an ongoing process that is outside the control of the airport manager.

References:
Congressional Research Service. (2007). Environmental Impacts of Airport Operations, Maintenance, and Expansion (CRS Order Code RL33949). Retrieved from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33949.pdf

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. (2014). Aircraft Noise and Operations Report 2014 Annual Summary. Retrieved from https://www.cvgairport.com/docs/default-source/stats/cvg-noise-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=2