That steady aircraft drone overhead in Mt Vernon, South County, Springfield, and Burke, is the new FAA "NextGen" southbound takeoff pattern from DCA Reagan that allows low flying DCA planes to climb out over these neighborhoods rather than climbing over the Potomac river.

This is an FAA rule to help airlines save fuel by cutting across heavily populated areas.

Yeah – see what you mean – this afternoon have a stream of low flying Reagan aircraft Reagan cutting across Burke/Springfield. Also noted numerous contrails overhead showing the pattern.

I Googled the new FAA NextGen traffic pattern – seems a source of neighborhood complaints nationwide – is Fairfax County taking any action??

Yes we are in Springfield and have noticed an increase in aircraft noise. Helicopters too. Our once quite neighborhood is changing.

From: 9-AWA-NoiseOmbudsman@faa.gov
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 8:03 AM
To:
Subject: RE: 12/22/15 - West Springfield

Hello,

Thank you for your email concerning aircraft noise. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with our office and apologize for the delay in this response. I understand that aircraft noise may be disruptive and result in a variety of effects. The FAA has a long history of studying noise related effects in order to minimize them to the extent possible through research and development, and mitigation measures.



The FAA’s mission is to ensure the safe and efficient use of our nation’s navigable airspace. The agency does not have the authority to prohibit aircraft overflights of a particular geographic area unless the operation is unsafe, or the aircraft is operated in a manner inconsistent with Federal Aviation Regulations. In order to handle air traffic demands, runway configurations are used in accordance with runway selection criteria. Air Traffic's runway selection is based on several factors which include the following: runway availability, wind, weather, operational efficiency, and noise considerations.



Airports are responsible for their noise impact on the communities they occupy. Please contact the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) for more information on their noise abatement procedures and noise restriction hours. Here is the link to MWAA’s Aircraft Noise webpage, which includes information on how to contact their office: http://www.flyreagan.com/dca/reagan-national-aircraft-noise-information.

Our office has received many complaints from people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. regarding the noise from operations at DCA. MWAA has established an airport/community noise roundtable forum to discuss the concerns that community residents have over aircraft noise. The FAA has been in direct communication with representatives from MWAA concerning an increase in inquiries from residents around DCA and is supporting the roundtable. At the December roundtable meeting, the roundtable agreed upon a recommendation to MWAA for submittal to the FAA for further analysis. That recommendation and other information from the roundtable can be found at: http://www.flyreagan.com/dca/community-working-group.



More information about aviation noise is available on the Federal Aviation Administration website and the ASCENT NoiseQuest website: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/

http://www.noisequest.psu.edu/



I realize that this response may not provide you with the desired relief from aircraft noise that you requested in your email message. However the FAA is continuing to manage the national airspace system in a safe and efficient manner while also continuing to develop measures to reduce noise from aircraft in the future.



Best,

Andrea


Andrea S Freeburg
Assistant to the Noise Ombudsman
Federal Aviation Administration
Washington, DC

Today’s (5 March) Washington Post, Metro Section, had a lengthy front page article re DCA Reagan and nationwide increase in airplane noise complaints caused by the recent FAA changes for departing aircraft.

We live in the Newington area near Davidson airport for almost 35 years. We have always accepted the fact that we moved near this airport and expected fixed wing and some helicopter noise. It seemed to not be a bother as the flights did not go over the homes as the flight pattern seemed to follow roadways toward I95/I395. For the last few years many other non-military helicopters have been flying directly over our homes and at a very very low altitude, sometimes making all of the Windows shake. Coast Guard, Fairfax County police, medical, flight schools? who knows? everyone seems to have their own individual helicopters. Even the high fuel prices didn't slow down the traffic. My screened in porch keeps a black film on the furniture and floors, I cannot guess what it would look like if there was not a roof over top!
I know there is very little you can do to control all of these agencies, but isn't there some sort of fine that can be issued to helicopters flying so low or at the very least relook at the flight patterns these agencies use on a consistent basis and try to change them to try to avoid flying over home developments as much as possible and as high as they can so it doesn't sound like they are coming into our bedrooms? Thank you for anything you can do.

LOL

Today (4/06) the WTOP webpage posted an article regarding the noise problems caused by FAA NextGen traffic pattern changes at Reagan Airport that allows commercial planes to climb out over neighborhoods rather than the Potomac river, all to save fuel costs for the airlines.

Please email your Fairfax supervisor supporting the Fairfax Board letter of complaint they voted to send to MWAA/FAA.

The following link is a tool that shows Reagan airport traffic - very cool

http://webtrak5.bksv.com/dca

I'm going to fix it.

Send aircraft noise complaints to FAA at:


9-AWA-NoiseOmbudsman@faa.gov

DCA Reagan southbound departure map from MWAA Community Working Group page.
Attachments:

Any updates? Been noticing they're banking further and further north when taking off in a southbound direction.

WTOP mentioned again on 16 June

I do have the same complaint. Over the past few weeks it looks like a stream of low flying Reagan aircraft Reagan cutting across Burke/Springfield, generating a lot of noise to a point where I have to close my windows now.

I also have to close my windows because the Reagan airport noise is almost constant after FAA moved the aircraft departure route over my house near South Run Park. The Reagan Airport FAA/MWAA noise webpage indicates the issue is under review by FAA, so I recommend filing a noise complaint using the link posted above to register your noise complaint during the ongoing study.

Does anyone have information regarding the Reagan airport noise presentation in Arlington on Tues 9/13?

On 13 Sept - the FAA will hold its Reagan Airport noise complaint meeting at:



The FAA will hold a series of community workshops, which will be held locally in September. Three public workshops held in DC, in Virginia, and in Maryland.
o Washington Lee High School (Arlington, VA)
• September 13, 2016
• 6:30pm to 9:30pm
• 1301 N Stafford St - 1301 N Stafford St - Arlington, VA 22201

I guess the FAA noise meeting was unsuccessful as the Reagan aircraft departure drone continues over the neighborhood.

Get over it. DCA has been here long before you moved into your homes. Sorry the wheels of progress make an annoying sound to you. Nextgen will save time, fuel, and simplify navigation which ultimately lowers costs to consumers and saves lives. Turn up your Barry Manilow records and shut up. I own a home in Mt Vernon. I appreciate being 20 mins away from a major airport with so many direct routes and departures which suit my schedule. Just because you can hear a jet doesn't mean it's a publuc nuisance. You should visit Roaring Rock, NC, a middle of nowhere haven so named for the peaceful sound of cascading mountain streams carving through the gaps, but appropriate for the fact that they are right on the VR 042 mil training route, which means F-15s screaming by at over 600 knots at only 200 feet is a daily occurrence. They have a gripe with air traffic. You whiners do not.