HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03011994 - 1.22 zZ
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: J. MICHAEL WALFORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: March 1, 1994
SUBJECT: ACCEPT ANNUAL NOISE REPORT FROM BUCHANAN FIELD AIRPORT
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&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 the Buchanan Field Airport Noise
Monitoring System and to summarize 1993 noise complaints. The report contains information on the
system costs, uses, as well as reporting capabilities. Samples of some of the system generated reports
are explained and included in the report.
AIRPORT NOISE MONITORING SYSTEM
On September 7, 1992, Contra Costa County contracted with Tracor Applied Sciences to supply and
install an airport noise monitoring system consisting of software and hardware for eight (8) noise
monitoring stations as well as a portable monitor for Buchanan Field Airport. The system can be
expanded to accommodate additional monitoring locations. This work was accepted as complete on
June 30, 1993. Total costs for the system was approximately $500,000. Ninety percent of the cost was
funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, and the local 10% share was paid out of the Airport
Enterprise Fund.
Continued on Attachment.— SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY.ADMINISTRATOR —RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
_,APPROVE _OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARDAAR 1 ., 1994 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
D' UNANIMOUS (ABSENT
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: 1 hereby cV rtity that this is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Su rs on-tbe date shown.
c:/1t3.doc A�EPHIL BATCHELOR,C erk of the Board
of Supervisors and Cou ty Administrator
Orig Div: Airport-Contact: H.Wight(510)646-5722 L& '
cc: County Administrator By ,Deputy
Public Works Director
Public Works Accounting
Auditor/Controller
Aviation Advisory Committee
Federal Aviation Administration
SUBJECT: ACCEPT ANNUAL NOISE REPORT FROM BUCHANAN FIELD AIRPORT
March 1, 1994
Page 2
This customized system is used to provide factual information for resolution of noise complaints, evaluation of
compliance with recommended noise abatement procedures, and to determine overall aircraft noise levels. It
provides noise level data for individual aircraft overflights in addition to hourly and daily average noise levels. It
continuously records aviation and non-aviation noise events at each of the monitoring sites, as well as recording
FAA Tower and aircraft radio transmissions, to help establish aircraft that may be involved in specific noise
events. Continuous monitoring allows for correlation of measured noise levels with complaint records. A noise
monitoring site location map is included as EXHIBIT 1.
The noise monitoring system contains several unique software and hardware tools to link noise level information
to aircraft ownership and complaints. These include a complaint system with a data base of callers, and a
graphical geocoded mapping system for viewing complaint locations and noise monitoring sites simultaneously.
Refer to EXHIBIT 2.
The Integrated Noise Model (INM) program included with the system will allow staff to generate annual noise
exposure contour maps. The State Noise Standards establish the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) as
the noise metric to be used by airport proprietors to measure airport noise. The CNEL metric is a 24-hour
average noise descriptor with evening and nighttime penalties. A CNEL level of 65 dB is defined by the State 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 Buchanan Field Airport's noise impact boundary. Findings in the Buchanan
Field Airport Noise Compatibility Report, which assessed the noise impacts of existing (1987) and forecast
(1992), concluded.that there were no non compatible land uses within the 65 dB and above noise.contours. In
spite of this, the Airport continues to receive a significant number of noise complaints, and as such, continues to
be responsive to community concerns.
1993 NOISE COMPLAINT AND OPERATIONS SUMMARY
For the calendar year 1993, one person filed 759 complaints relating to helicopter training activities. At the
request of the Aviation Advisory Committee, this statistical aberration was reported separately from the total
number of other complaints. The reason for this request was to provide a greater perspective of community
noise concerns associated with Buchanan Field Airport operations. Less the one caller, a total of 500 other
complaints were filed.
Each time an aircraft either lands or departs is counted as one operation. A "touch-and-go" remains in the
traffic pattern and is counted as two operations. Slightly more than half of all operations in 1993 were "touch-
and-go". During 1993, there were a total of 228, 041 operations, down approximately 21% from the prior year.
Forty-seven percent of all complaints processed were related to helicopter activities, the majority of which were
filed by nearby Pacheco residents who were usually home during. the daytime hours. Most complaints were
concerning the number of helicopter training operations near the residential areas. In response to these
community concerns, the Internal Operations Committee of the Board of Supervisors tasked the Off-Airport
Helicopter Training Site Working Group with a list of charges relating to resolving this issue, one of which was
to identify an acceptable remote training site away from residential areas. The Working Group was successful in
most of its charges, and continues to search for a remote site for helicopter training related activities. Staff
believes that if such a site can be identified and implemented, that future complaints regarding helicopters
conducting training operations will diminish.
Except for those that were helicopter related, complaints by known type of aircraft (jet, single-engine, and multi-
engine) decreased by approximately 15%. This success can be attributed to a combination of increased pilot
awareness and cooperation, a decline in total operations, and an aggressive noise management program. Staffs
ability to identify and follow up on specific noise complaints by type of complaint more than doubled since the
acquisition of the noise monitoring system.
Of the 500 complaints responded to, at least 25 were regarding aircraft transitioning the area, not specifically tied
to Buchanan Field. Transitioning aircraft may include traffic watch, public safety, military, and others. Since the
acceptance of the noise monitoring system and associated equipment, staff has had'more success in positively
identifying aircraft and operators that cause disturbances in the surrounding communities. EXHIBIT 3 is the
1993 year end Buchanan Field Airport monthly report of noise complaint statistics.
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22
BUCHANAN FIELD AIRPORT
Monthly Report of Noise
Complaints
COMMUNITY COMPATIBILITY PROGRAM
DECEMBER 1993
DECEMBER DECEMBER YTD YTD
1992 1993 1992 1993
Total Number of Complaints 11 14 522 500
Complaints Associated
With Buchanan Airport 11 14 498 475
Location of Complaints
Concord 5 4 121 81
Pleasant Hill 3 5 147 140
Pacheco 1 1 185 186
Martinez 2 4 35 55
Byron 0 0 13 3
Other 0 0 21 35
Time of Complaint
Day(0700-1900) 9 10 347 419
Evening(1900-2200) 1 0 48 36
Night(2200-0700) 1 4 28 38
All Times 0 0 99 7
Type of Complaint
Noise 4 5 219 222
Low Flying Aircraft 1 2 76 73
Noise and Low Flying 4 5 145 119
Reckless Flying 0 0 2 2
Too Many Aircraft 2 2 70 67
Other 0 0 10 17
Type of Aircraft
Pure Jet 4 1 76 72
Turbo-prop 0 0 0 0
Prop - Multi Engine 0 0 37 12
Prop-Single Engine 2 7 137 128
Helicopter 3 4 203 236
All Types 0 0 30 40
Unknown 2 2 39 12
Multiple Caller - Helicopters 19 13 276 759
Total Aircraft Operations 13,959 11,988 286,320 228,041
Operations Per Complaint 1,269 856 549 456
Buchanan Ops/Cmp Only 1,269 856 575 480 — - - ----
Exhibit 3