Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) on at a Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on Wednesday questioned a panel of airplane industry experts on what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intends to do to address complaints from her constituents regarding airplane noise in D.C. neighborhoods, including the Palisades, Georgetown, Foxhall and Bellevue. Norton also raised the possibility of having airline flight paths rerouted to over the Potomac River, instead of residential neighborhoods. When asked about whether aircraft noise is considered during the FAA certification process, FAA Director of the Aircraft Certification Service Dorenda Baker said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets noise standards. Norton said she will be in contact with the relevant offices.
Last December, Norton submitted a question for the record to FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Margaret Gilligan about possible benefits from implementation of NextGen, FAA's effort to modernize the U.S. air traffic system, including reductions in noise exposure, and how FAA plans to craft workable solutions with community input. Norton wrote, "D.C. residents who live in Ward 3, especially the Palisades, Foxhall and Georgetown neighborhoods, and in the Ward 8 Bellevue neighborhood, have reached out to our office over the years repeatedly raising serious concerns about airplane noise from commercial flights leaving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) . DCA has been touted by the FAA as one of the airports where steps have already been taken to implement components of NextGen. For example, jetliners are able to glide their planes as they descend from cruising altitude to land at DCA. However, according to residents, these new flight paths have shifted planes from flying over the Potomac River during departures, a remedy we previously achieved, to flying over residential neighborhoods, creating unbearable noise during all hours of the day and night . In preparation for NextGen flight patterns, are you engaging with representatives of affected communities?"
Gilligan responded, "Some community concerns may be addressed through further engagement by the airport authority with the airline operators and the FAA. Since multiple communities around an airport may have an interest in procedural changes that might result in changes in noise exposure, we have found it is preferred to handle engagement through a community Roundtable forum established by the airport authority, within which the FAA would participate."
In order to adequately address the noise issues with community participation, Norton has announced that she will be hosting a community roundtable discussion in the near future. Her office will invite D.C. residents to share their concerns with representatives from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the EPA, and the FAA.