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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02281995 - 1.24 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS /, FROM: J. MICHAEL WALFORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DATE: February 28, 1995 SUBJECT: ACCEPT ANNUAL NOISE REPORT FROM BUCHANAN FIELD AIRPORT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) &BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION I. Recommended Action: ACCEPT annual noise report from Public Works Director for Buchanan Field Airport. II. Financial Impact: None III. Reasons for Recommendations and Background: The purpose of this report is to brief the Board of Supervisors on 1994 noise complaints related to Buchanan Field Airport. The report contains information detailing the 1994 complaints relative to years 1992 and 1993 and examines the complaints by month and by type of aircraft. AIRPORT NOISE AND COMPLAINT MONITORING PROCESS Buchanan Field Airport uses an airport noise monitoring system for responding to noise complaints, for evaluating compliance with recommended noise abatement procedures, and for determining the overall aircraft and community noise levels. The data collection comes from eight (8) fixed monitoring stations surrounding the Airport at various locations. These sites are linked via telephone line to a central computer located at the Manager of Airport's Office. These stations monitor both aviation and non-aviation noise 24 hours a day and provide detailed reports of noise events, as well as recording FAA Control Tower and aircraft radio transmissions. The noise monitoring system can provide noise level data for individual aircraft overflights in addition to hourly and daily noise levels. This customized system is used to provide factual and verifiable information. Continuous monitoring allows for correlation of measured noise level violations with or without complaint records. Continued on Attachment: SIGNATURE: f _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OFBOARDON�:, ,,, APPRO VEDAS RECOMMENDED ✓ OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) y AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: 1 hereby certify that this Is a true and correct Copy of , an action taken and entered on the minutes of the a:/lt3.doc Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: eryd I q Orig Div: Airport- Contact: H. Wight(510) 646-5722 PHIL BATCHELO Jerk of the Board cc: County Administrator of Supervisors and County Administrator Public Works Director (,� - •�� Public Works Accounting By ,qI � .a-�-r� .Deputv Auditor/Controller �� Aviation Advisory Committee _v:..t Federal Aviation Administration ; p� Anntial'Noise Report From Buchanan Field Airport / Zy— February 28, 1995 Page Two Complaint calls are received at the Manager of Airports office and recorded by airport staff. Complaints are later entered into the noise complaint data base. This method combined with the system's vast features permit airport staff to successfully identify most aircraft that are involved in specific noise events and violations. Offending pilots are notified of the complaint and are provided with noise management information. 1994 NOISE, COMPLAINT, AND OPERATIONS SUMMARY The noise monitoring system provides aircraft noise impact data as it relates to the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). The CNEL is established by the State Noise Standards as the noise metric to be used by airport proprietors to measure airport noise. The CNEL metric is a 24-hour average noise descriptor. Direct noise measurements are reported between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. To account for the increased noise sensitivity of people during the evening and nighttime hours, additional 5 dB (decibel) and 10 dB weightings are applied to the direct noise measurements between the hours of 7:00 p.m, and 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., respectively. A CNEL of 65 dB is defined by the State of California as the maximum noise level "acceptable to a reasonable person residing in the vicinity of an airport." Hence, the 65 dB CNEL noise contour defines the Airport's noise impact boundary. The CNEL number is a 24-hour averaged figure and therefore does not represent a single-event noise level. Single-event noise (e.g., noise from an aircraft take-off, landing, or flyover) is the type of noise to which most people are sensitive. However, based on the outcome of a court case in the early 1970's, the State of California cannot regulate single-event noise. People continue to experience single-event noise impacts in areas outside the 65 dB CNEL noise impact boundary for Buchanan Field Airport. CNELA indicates the total noise statistic potentially originating from AIRCRAFT. This number is determined by totalling the noise data that pass the discrimination tests (duration, threshold, rise/fall times) and could be related to aircraft. This number can be thought of as a worst case scenario. CNELT indicates the noise statistic TOTAL, as defined by the Buchanan Field/ TRACOR noise monitoring system. All data are uncorrected. Noise Levels Aircraft and Community Totals decibies 100 so 60 - 40 20 0 ' Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec CNELA ® CNELT For the calendar year 1994, one person filed 395 complaints relating to helicopter training activities. At the request of the Aviation Advisory Committee, this statistical aberration continues to be reported separately from the total number of other complaints. The reason for this request was to provide a greater perspective of Annual Noise Report From Buchanan Field Airport February 28, 1995 Page Three e were filed (as compared to 500 in 1993). Of these 311, 103 were filed by 10 citizens. Most callers in 1994 had called the airport in previous years. Thirty-six percent of all complaints processed originated from Pacheco. Pleasant Hill residents generated twenty-four percent and Concord residents generated seventeen percent. Fourteen percent of the complaints recorded were from residents of Martinez. Nine percent came from other areas, including a small amount related to the new Byron Airport. Complaint- Locations By percent Martinez 14 Concord 17 PaCheCO 36 ............................::: i:i"•ii Other .. « :: ' 9 . Pleasant Hill 24 Helicopters generated the highest number of complaints at forty-six percent of the total. Propeller driven aircraft followed closely with forty-one percent. Jet aircraft generated complaints accounted for thirteen percent of the total Aircraft GeneratingComplaints By Type 'gib 20 ......._....._..._............................__......_.. _.....-................_......_...................... ......................_ _..._. ,__.._...._...__....._.......__._......... 16 ............_...................... 10 _..._ ......._..........._........_...___..._...___....__.__....._ b 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec O Helicopter ® Jet 21 Propeller Annual Noise Report From Buchanan Field Airport February 28, 1995 Page Four Most complaints were filed by nearby Pacheco residents who were usually home during the daytime hours and concerned the number of helicopter training operations near the residential areas. Most complaints from other areas of the county concerned fixed wing aircraft. J Legend: v� • 1 complaints - ■ 2-3 complaints ♦ 4-5 complaints ! y �1 6-9 complaints * 10-400 complaints _ r 000 r \ ti S Annual Noise Report From Buchanan Field Airport February 28, 1995 Page Five Each time an aircraft either lands or departs, it is counted as one operation. A "touch-and-go" remains in the traffic pattern and is counted as two operations because the aircraft lands once and departs once. To provide accurate data on complaints as they relate to volume, this years' results are shown as operations per complaint (total operations less the abberation divided by total complaints on a monthly basis) instead of the gross complaint total. This formula compares the complaint total to traffic for that month or year and accurately reflects the impact of aircraft on airport neighbors. Overall, the Airport appears to be generating fewer complaints even though operations have increased. Operations per complaint statistic totals have risen slightly on average from 1992 and 1993 figures. Traffic increased 1.2 percent in 1994 over 1993 to 230,998 operations. An ongoing aggressive noise management program coupled with pilot cooperation has provided favorable results. Enhanced ability to identify non- complying aircraft and follow up on specific noise complaints has undoubtedly contributed to the success of this program. To reaffirm our commitment to the good neighbor policy, an updated noise management brochure is being prepared and will be mailed to approximately 1,300 pilots this Spring. Operations per Complaint Buchanan Field Airport 3000 2500 _....._........_................. _...._....._.._..__ ....,.................................-..........I.._........... 2000 _ -.._.._._._._.__._-_._.._._........__ _ __ _._...__......_.._.....___....._.__..,......_.......__....................._......._.................................._ ....___ 1600 ......................_........ _..-_..... _. _..._-..._._..............................._.....__._.....................__...... .........-......._....._....... 1000 �,�-: �_...._.._.__......_................... ._..._._...__.-_..._....._...._._._.._,...... ....... ...I_...rr::......- 600 -� -�-__ _._____ _ ... - _ '_.. -4-_-�. a Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month 1992 -4- 1993 --Yk- 1994