The Chicago Department of Aviation says it plans to make “significant changes” to address noise complaints surrounding O’Hare International Airport. NBC Chicago’s Charlie Wojciechowski reports.
The Chicago Department of Aviation has released a plan to address noise complaints at O’Hare International Airport.
The department says it plans to make “significant changes” to flight departure traffic by balancing the use of O’Hare’s runways at night, prioritizing the building of additional runways to reduce noise concentrated over certain neighborhoods and exploring ways to provide sound insulation to residents.
“The solutions released today are the product of months of analysis, and collaboration with community groups and aviation experts,” Commissioner Ginger S. Evans said in a statement.
Evans continued by saying he believes the CDA's steps to reduce noise will "ensure a higher quality of life for O’Hare’s neighbors, while maximizing the safety and efficiency of the world’s busiest airport."
"The city takes very seriously the impact of airport noise," Evans said. "But we are required to balance that with the impact on the thousands of people who rely upon O’Hare each day.”
The plan aims to make operational changes like a Fly Quiet Program to address nighttime noise. The Fly Quiet Program will develop a new rotation concept designed to spread out noise impacts and relieve areas where the noise has been concentrated.
The department also plans to work with the FAA to continue to provide things like insulation for homes and other noise-sensitive facilities. It also plans to investigate the possibility of a “live chat” or a mobile app for residents to submit their noise complaints.
Noise complaints at the airport soared in 2013 after the airport opened Runway 10-C.
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"We can't sleep, we can't talk," Yolanta Gorniak said. "I can't fix a meal because I am shaking. I don't know what I put in my pot. We are so frustrated and we can't live like that."
According to the City’s Department of Aviation, noise complaints at the airport jumped from more than 21,000 in 2012 to more than 29,000 last year. By June of 2014. there were almost 25,000 with 60 percent in March coming from 12 addresses in Bensenville, situated under a flight path.
