Airplane Noise

IS it just me or is the airplane noise getting worse ?? I realize IAD is becoming a bigger airport in terms of traffic but can anything be done ?
Or did most of you get used to it ?

 

What airplane noise?

 

Yeah I never hear the greenway or planes =)

 

I'm not sure what section of the Broadlands you live in, but I have lived in the Northern section for over 7 years, and have yet to even hear an overhead airplane. Now I'm sure that I have, but it never, ever, registered as being an "Oh my God, this Airplane noise is unbearable" issue.

 

The only time I notice them is around 6pm-ish when the International flights are taking off and we happen to be outside.

 

Depending on the flight patterns, planes sometimes fly directly over my house in Broadlands South (Courtyards). And when it is cloudy or foggy outside the sound can be particularly loud; the clouds must effect the sound propagation. There have been times when the noise has actually caused my 2-year old to wake up and come screaming into our bedroom.

Does Dulles have flight restrictions at night? I thought it did. If so, what are the hours? I would assume it's something like 10 PM to 6 AM or something (you can hear the big trans-atlantic redeyes taking off around 10 PM each night). I have no problem with the noise during the day, but if there are supposed to be flight restrictions at night that are not being followed, I think we have a legitimate complaint. I often hear airplanes taking off when I am getting ready for work at 4:30-5 AM. Is this allowed?

 

Was everyone blind or deaf when you purchased your house in Broadlands? There is an airport three miles away what do you expect. My suggestion is you need to move to an area without airports.

 

Airport? Where? Great, now I can stop using Reagan National!!

Seriously, though, I have noticed more noise the last few nights. I'm surprised because usually the planes seem to change their routes and only randomly fly over our house. But the last few nights it seems like every five or ten minutes another plane is landing on our roof. In any event, we knew it was a risk when we bought so I can't be too disappointed.

 

I was waiting for a post like this. Boy, it certainly didn't take long.

Were you blind or deaf when you read my post? I guess I'll have to re-quote it. I said "I have no problem with the noise during the day, but if there are supposed to be flight restrictions at night that are not being followed, I think we have a legitimate complaint."

I simply inquired as to whether there are night-time flight restrictions. If there are, don't we have a right to complain if they are not being followed? I don't think the "let the buyer beware" argument works if this is the case.

 

No nigthtime flight restrictions (related to noise) that I can find. See:

http://www.washingtonairports.com/noiseandlanduse/countypolicies.htm

and

http://www.loudoun.gov/bos/docs/boscompplanrevi_/generalplan_/chapter5greenin/chapter5greenin.doc

Check Group 4, Section C for Airport Noise Policies.

 

It seems the planes are not flying within the map of the defined Ldn 60-65 aircraft noise contours. I have lived in Brambleton less that 2yrs now. Increasingly I have noticed the planes turning right sooner as well as flying lower overhead. The east/west most oriented runway is a takeoff runway in the west direction for planes headed north or east... it looks like the planes should be waiting till they are higher and further out before they turn right. This is what I believe I observed 3 yrs ago before I signed to buy the house. Now the planes are curving inside the east side of Brambleton/Broadlands. Maybe a cost cutting move on the airlines part?

http://www.washingtonairports.com/noiseandlanduse/maps.htm
(click the map to close in on a section)

 

From that same site:
"Is there a phone number I can call to notify someone if I feel that an airplane has flown abnormally close to my home?

You can call Washington Dulles International Airport Operations at 703-572-8215. The Operations office will ask you a series of questions in an attempt to identify the flight operation to which you are referring. The person speaking with you may be able to explain the circumstance for the unusual noise or intrusion during that call, or it may very well require further research. The record of your inquiry is sent to the Airports Authority's Noise Abatement Office where they can determine the precise relationship of an individual flight to your home and offer you guidance. As part of its efforts to reduce airport noise and to provide information to help guide the public policy of local governments, the Airports Authority maintains a system of sound monitors strategically located throughout the region. They also obtain radar plots of the precise flight path of every aircraft using Dulles and National. By putting the two sets of information together, they can determine whether the noise you heard was made by an aircraft (and if so, which one) or by some other source."

--Joy

 

The noise contours are not a representation of where aircraft fly, rather an abstract represntation of where the noise is. This page has a graphic showing the actual radar tracks of aircraft for one day:

http://www.washingtonairports.com/noiseandlanduse/weather.htm

Also, from the faq on that site:

"The Federal Aviation Administration, not the airport, that controls the aircraft while it's airborne. At some airports where houses have been built in noise impacted areas, or where physical constraints like a mountain, or security concerns restrict airspace, the FAA will set up specific flight corridors. Reagan National Airport is an example. However, such restrictions can reduce the capacity of runways and thus an airport's ability to serve regional demand. For Washington Dulles, good public policy has encouraged commercial uses in most noise impacted areas and placed restrictions on housing in noise impacted areas whose construction could not by law be prevented."

 

Are you blind or deaf ?? I said "IS it just me or is the airplane noise getting worse ??" Which implies there was noise before and I knew about the noise ... [8D]

 

There are no noise restrictions for Dulles. And you better get used to it, because it will onlt get worse. Dulles is building two more runways and will get even busier. It's currently the fourth busiest airport in the country.
If you live in Brambleton, there shold have been no surprises. I'm pretty sure everyone there has to sign a disclosure at their home settlements acknowledging their proximity to Dulles. Although not required, I think there's also a disclosure for Southern Walk residents as well.

 

Yes, the airport has grown and will continue to grow with the new runway being added (http://www.metwashairports.com/d2/images/d2map.pdf), although that won't open until 2008. Much of the growth has been with the smaller commuter planes like the CRJs that IAir flies. Luckily these kind get up in the air quickly and are less of a noise issue. It's the big ones, especially the international ones (747, 777, 767 and A330/340's) that are heavily loaded with passengers, luggage and fuel, that make the most noise when taking off. Unfortunately these are the types of flights that typically leave later in the evening. We have lived in a flight path for takeoffs from the western runway when they turn north immediately for three years now and really don't notice the plane noise anymore (and it does get loud at times). It's just like when people live near train tacks how they get used to the noise and don't even think about it.

 

The road noise from Claiborne and the Greenway is much worse then the airport noise. At least the planes are infrequently low or over the house.

 

Not quite. Those of us in Southern Walk cannot hear the Greenway or Claiborne at all. We even live in the northern part of Southern Walk, which is closer to the Greenway. However, we can clearly hear the airplanes. In fact, I hear one right now. To say that the road noise is worse is just plain wrong.

 

It isn't just you - we've only lived here in Broadlands for 7 months, but I agree that it is getting worse. It seems to depend on which runway they are using, and whichever one it is, they are using it more

 

I've heard that the Greedway is actually going to start allowing airplane landings (revenue opportunity) during low peak hours. That will make the road noise increase.