Fed Ex Noise Study Approved

By Paul B. Johnson, High Point Enterprise, N.C.

Jan. 17–GREENSBORO — Piedmont Triad International Airport officials say they hope an action they took Tuesday will lessen the impact of noise from Fed Ex Corp. cargo hub jets for decades to come.

Airport leaders approved a set of recommendations designed to reduce the impact of noise from future late-night and early-morning flights. Fed Ex is scheduled to open its next national cargo hub by the middle of 2009, eventually having 126 daily flight operations between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. at PTIA.

The measures approved by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority during its monthly meeting include directing planes over less densely populated areas and setting approach altitudes to reduce the impact of noise on neighborhoods. The authority also approved buying and soundproofi ng homes in areas most affected by aircraft noise,though the vast majority of homes in north High Point won’t qualify for that assistance.

The authority sends its recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration, which must give final approval for the noise mitigation plan to be implemented. The FAA, which should make a decision late this year, will provide an 80 percent funding match if and when it approves the plan.

The recommendations approved by the airport’s governing board were developed during the past 2

1?2 years by several dozen volunteers, who include residents living near PTIA. Consultants helped three volunteer committees come up with the recommendations.

Jean Black of Greensboro, acritic of the hub project who served on the citizens advisory committee, praised the airport authority and consultants for taking their input seriously.

“Hopefully, this will help all communities in close proximity to the airport,” Black said about the noise study recommendations.

Black, who previously has been a plaintiff in legal actions against PTIA over the hub project, suggested that the airport authority set up a permanent citizens advisory board on aircraft noise.

Many airports across the country, including in Indianapolis where Fed Ex has a national cargo hub, have set up citizens advisory boards on noise issues as part of noise mitigation programs.

Lead noise study consultant Andy Harris of Manchester, Mass., said the noise mitigation program should be updated every five years to refl ect changes in flights

pjohnson@hpe.com|888-3528

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Copyright (c) 2007, High Point Enterprise, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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