DCA AIRPLANE NOISE ASSESSMENT STUDY

FY 2017-DOEE PROJECT

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WHY PERFORM THIS ASSESSMENT? NEXTGEN!• A new national airspace system transforming America’s air traffic control

system from a ground-based navigation/radar system with radio communication, to a satellite-based (GPS) system

• Implementation across the U.S. from 2004 to 2025

• Disadvantage: • New air traffic control routes were established over noise-sensitive areas

• NextGen implemented at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) beginning in 2011

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• Advantages: • shorter routes (more direct)• saves time and fuel • reduces traffic delays• increases capacity

• minimizes voice communication• greater safety• reduces ATC & cockpit workload• reduces air pollution

WASHINGTON METROPLEX STUDY AREA

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WASHINGTON, DC METROPLEX

Pre-NextGen NextGen

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FY 2017 PROJECT OBJECTIVES• Investigate noise impacts from DCA air traffic operations

• Review existing data, supplemented by new investigations,

document past and current airplane noise environment over the

District

• Review current noise abatement procedures

• Identify and develop revised air traffic procedures, acceptable to

the FAA, to minimize the current noise impact on the District

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PROJECT TEAMThe District - Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)

Air Quality Division, Monitoring and Assessment BranchDOEE Contact: Dr. Rama Tangirala

The District - Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) Air Quality Division, Monitoring and Assessment Branch

DOEE Contact: Dr. Rama Tangirala

Client

Freytag & Associates LLC Jack Freytag

Freytag & Associates LLC Jack Freytag

Project Manager

Hughes AV, Dennis Hughes

Hughes AV, Dennis Hughes

Route Analysis

Clayton SmithConsulting

Clayton SmithConsulting

NOP Data Analysis

CSDA Design Group,Randy Waldeck

CSDA Design Group,Randy Waldeck

Noise Modeling

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PROJECT TIMELINE

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DCA Airplane Noise AssessmentProject period: January ‐ September 2017

Description January February  March  April May June July August SeptemberProject Kickoff/Community Engagement & MeetingsReview Noise Monitoring and Flight Track Reports and DataInterim Progress ReportsEvaluate Pre and Post‐NEXTGEN Flight PathsSupplemental Noise Monitoring in District CommunitiesNoise Modeling Analysis and Modeling ResultsDevelop Alternate Air Traffic Control Procedures DOEE and Community Meeting‐ Final PresentationRecommendations and Final Report

Grantee: Freytag & Associates, LLC

District Agency: Department of Energy & Environment

PROJECT ACTIVITIES: Existing Assessment

• Noise complaints – historical review

• Published air routes – review and assess

• DCA noise monitoring records – review and assess

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PROJECT ACTIVITIES: Field Survey

• Noise monitoring in the community

– Sleep interference study

– Classroom disruption study

– Validate MWAA NMT data

– Quantify residential facade noise reduction

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PROJECT ACTIVITIES: Noise Modeling and Recommendations

• Computer noise modeling – past and present

• Recommend new air traffic control routes and procedures

• Report

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HISTORIC SUMMARY

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• 2008 Part 150: Recommended changing legacy to RNAV departure

route

– DCA Work Group, MWAA & FAA support route change along the

Potomac River

• Route relocations occurred during NextGen implementation

• FAA: minimal environmental assessments

• New RNAV routings non-compliant with FAA Order 1050.1E/F

DCA SPECIFIC ROUTE CHANGES

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• Departure tracks changed to over the Potomac River (moved east)

• Increased usage of River departure, near abandonment of NATIONAL

328 departure route over Arlington

• Arrival tracks condensed over the River

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RWY 01 DEPARTURE PATH

NOISE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS

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NOISE MONITORING TERMINAL (NMT) DATA

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NMT 4

NMT 6

NMT 17

NMT 5

NMT 20

NMT 7

NMT #17NMT #6

NMT #4

020,00040,00060,00080,000

100,000120,000140,000160,000

YR2008

YR2010

YR2012

YR2015

YR2016

ANNUAL DNL VALUES

NMT Event Counts

NMT DATA ANALYSIS

MONITOR

MWAA ANNUAL “Aircraft DNL” (dB)

YR 2010 YR 2011 YR 2012 YR 2013 YR 2014 YR 2015 YR 2016

DNL change

from 2010 to 2016

NMT #4 54.3 54.7 55.7 55.2 54.0 57.9 57.8 +3.5NMT #5 53.3 57.4 54.4 54.2 54.2 58.6 58.5 +5.2NMT #6 53.8 53.8 51.3 50.4 51.5 57.2 57.3 +3.5NMT #7 59.9 59.7 59.7 59.7 60.1 61.1 60.6 +0.7

NMT #17 55.3 58.8 56.9 58.2 56.5 54.9 54.8 -0.5NMT #20 44.9 46.4 44.6 44.7 43.8 43.5 43.8 -1.1

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-------------Old Noise Monitors New Monitoring System --

NMT VS. DOEE MEASUREMENTS

DNL (dBA)

MWAA DOEE Diff.

55.9 57.3 1.4

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SLEEP INTERFERENCE STUDY: Awakenings

RESIDENCE Aircraft AWAKE % Noise Reduction

R1: Reservoir Road 17 12.5% 30 dBR2: MacArthur Blvd. 28 34.3% 19 dBR3: Hillandale 20 30.9% 21 dB

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CLASSROOM DISRUPTIONResults: 3 classrooms: Georgetown Univ. & Georgetown Visitation

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Measured (dB) CriteriaA-Weighted Hourly Noise Level

34.7 – 38.0 dBA <35 dBA

C-Weighted Hourly Noise Level

51.7 – 62.6 dBC <55 dBC

Reverberation Time 0.45 – 1.04 seconds <0.60 seconds

NOISE MODELING

• FAA AEDT Noise Model v2c SP2

• Actual flight tracks (from NOP records)

• Models actual aircraft type, altitudes, operation time

• 8 days in 2010 (pre-NextGen), 8 days in 2015-2016

(NextGen)

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DAYS MODELED

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Modeled Day Prevailing Wind DirectionWednesday, January 13, 2010 NorthThursday, March 25, 2010 SouthWednesday, April 28, 2010 NorthWednesday, June 16, 2010 SouthWednesday, July 21, 2010 NorthThursday, August 19, 2010 NorthWednesday, October 20, 2010 SouthTuesday, December 7, 2010 NorthTuesday, July 21, 2015 NorthWednesday, August 19, 2015 NorthThursday, October 9, 2015 SouthThursday, December 10, 2015 NorthWednesday, January 20, 2016 NorthTuesday, March 22, 2016 SouthThursday, April 28, 2016 NorthWednesday, June 1, 2016 South

• 63% North Flow, typical for DCA

ARRIVAL FLIGHT TRACKS

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2010 2015-2016Pre NextGen NextGen

ARRIVAL FLIGHT TRACKS DENSITY

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2010Pre NextGen

NextGen

Warm Colors indicate higher density of flight paths. Flight paths averaged over 8 days

DEPARTURE FLIGHT TRACKS

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2010 2015-2016Pre NextGen

NextGen

DEPARTURE FLIGHT TRACKS DENSITY

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2010 2015-2016Pre NextGen

NextGen

Warm Colors indicate higher density of flight paths. Flight paths averaged over 8 days

NOISE MODEL VALIDATION: Pre-NextGen and NextGen Model and Monitor Values at Two Locations

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Loc. 8: NMT-4 Loc 9: NMT-6MWAA

MeasuredDNL, dBA

AEDT CalculatedDNL, dBA

DifferenceDNL, dBA

MWAA MeasuredDNL, dBA

AEDT CalculatedDNL, dBA

DifferenceDNL, dBA

Pre-Next GenAverages 56.3 58.4 -2.1 54.7 55.1 -0.4

NextGen Averages 58.5 57.5 1.0 57.7 56.5 1.2

Note: Pre-NextGen MWAA NMT data is not 100% reliable

NOISE EXPOSURE CONTOURS (DNL)

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Pre NextGen

NextGen

NOISE EXPOSURE CHANGE (DNL)

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60 dBA DNL contour

NOISE EXPOSURE CHANGE (DNL)

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DNL Noise Level (dBA) Significance Criteria65+ 1.5 dBA increase

60 to 65 3.0 dBA increase45 to 60 5.0 dBA increase

Number Name/Code PreNextGen NextGen Change

1 FOX_CRESC_1 54.6 54.2 -0.42 FOX_CRESC_2 57.5 56.9 -0.63 FOX_CRESC_3 55.5 54.7 -0.74 PALISADES 58.1 57.0 -1.15 2316_BENTON 53.1 53.6 0.46 2901_M_ST 53.3 55.0 1.77 DEXTER_ST 53.7 53.2 -0.48 NMT_4 58.4 57.5 -0.99 NMT_6 55.1 56.5 1.3

10 NMT_A 59.7 59.4 -0.311 NMT_B 53.7 54.7 0.912 NMT_C 59.3 59.0 -0.413 NMT_D 57.0 57.9 0.814 FRENCH_MAT 52.4 54.1 1.7

TIME ABOVE LEVEL (MINUTES)

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2010 2015-2016 Delta (2015-2016 minus 2010)

Number Name/Code 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA

1 FOX_CRESC_1 270.9 134.8 53.9 9.4 1.0 322.9 163.8 63.2 10.4 0.0 52.0 29.0 9.3 1.1 -0.92 FOX_CRESC_2 344.3 193.4 90.4 30.8 4.1 414.7 228.1 107.0 35.5 3.4 70.4 34.7 16.5 4.8 -0.63 FOX_CRESC_3 292.3 150 63.6 13.7 1.3 350.8 178.6 72.4 13.4 0.1 58.5 28.6 8.8 -0.3 -1.34 PALISADES 355.4 209.6 102.8 33.5 4.6 436.3 254.9 118.8 34.0 2.6 80.9 45.3 16.0 0.4 -2.05 2316_BENTON 230.4 107.6 36.1 4.6 0.5 280.9 136.8 50.0 8.3 0.0 50.5 29.2 13.9 3.6 -0.56 2901_M_ST 240.9 106.3 34.3 7.1 0.7 305.9 153.9 61.0 20.1 1.3 65.1 47.6 26.7 12.9 0.77 DEXTER_ST 243.5 117.5 41.5 5.8 0.6 292.6 144.6 47.9 4.4 0.0 49.1 27.1 6.4 -1.4 -0.68 NMT_4 361.8 217 110.1 35.4 4.8 447.0 269.9 136.5 40.9 4.0 85.2 52.9 26.5 5.4 -0.79 NMT_6 296.9 150.6 56.1 13.5 1.3 355.0 197.8 85.6 28.4 4.4 58.2 47.2 29.5 14.9 3.110 NMT_A 394.3 243.7 132.2 52.9 10.6 466.2 292.1 164.4 69.4 14.8 18.6 14.6 12.3 7.3 2.711 NMT_B 255 116 41.8 6.4 0.7 309.4 150.6 60.9 16.3 0.2 71.8 48.4 32.2 16.5 4.212 NMT_C 387.5 236.4 124.7 48.3 9.0 460.8 284.0 153.2 60.6 12.9 54.4 34.6 19.2 9.9 -0.613 NMT_D 342.7 191.6 84.9 26.7 3.4 401.4 237.8 118.8 42.2 8.5 73.2 47.6 28.6 12.3 3.814 FRENCH_MAT 219.5 89.3 27.5 4.5 0.5 278.7 130.2 49.9 14.7 0.2 58.7 46.1 34.0 15.5 5.1

TIME ABOVE 65 dBA (MINUTES)

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1 FOX_CRESC_12 FOX_CRESC_23 FOX_CRESC_34 PALISADES5 2316_BENTON6 2901_M_ST7 DEXTER_ST8 NMT_49 NMT_610 NMT_A11 NMT_B12 NMT_C13 NMT_D14 FRENCH_MAT

NUMBER ABOVE LEVEL

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2010 2015-2016 Delta (2015-2016 minus 2010)

Number Name/Code 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA

1 FOX_CRESC_1 347.3 268.9 199.5 72.0 8.6 387.6 310.8 225.4 88.6 0.3 40.4 41.9 25.9 16.6 -8.42 FOX_CRESC_2 358.6 344.6 278.3 180.8 47.0 410.1 394.9 311.6 205.0 53.4 51.5 50.3 33.4 24.3 6.43 FOX_CRESC_3 352.9 301.4 218.5 102.3 12.8 402.1 331.4 253.5 104.4 1.1 49.3 30.0 35.0 2.1 -11.64 PALISADES 359.8 350.6 320.5 204.8 50.9 410.6 407.1 367.0 204.1 40.3 50.9 56.5 46.5 -0.6 -10.65 2316_BENTON 320.4 230.8 155.0 33.0 3.1 369.4 295.6 192.6 78.3 0.0 49.0 64.9 37.6 45.3 -3.16 2901_M_ST 346.3 277.0 146.9 56.3 5.0 409.6 383.0 237.8 130.9 26.3 63.4 106.0 90.9 74.6 21.37 DEXTER_ST 331.6 245.3 172.8 43.1 4.6 365.9 290.9 201.9 58.9 0.0 34.3 45.6 29.1 15.8 -4.68 NMT_4 360.1 353.0 333.0 221.5 48.3 410.8 408.6 394.6 257.5 54.9 50.6 55.6 61.6 36.0 6.69 NMT_6 356.6 321.3 220.6 87.0 10.8 410.3 404.3 336.1 158.1 60.4 53.6 83.0 115.5 71.1 49.610 NMT_A 361.0 359.6 351.1 273.8 113.6 410.9 409.5 406.6 363.4 150.6 49.9 49.9 55.5 89.6 37.011 NMT_B 346.9 257.9 163.1 53.5 5.4 404.9 345.4 239.8 134.5 7.5 58.0 87.5 76.6 81.0 2.112 NMT_C 361.0 358.5 345.6 253.4 98.6 410.8 409.3 402.6 324.8 132.9 49.8 50.8 57.0 71.4 34.313 NMT_D 360.3 346.1 283.1 160.5 38.8 410.8 408.1 385.9 243.0 99.3 50.5 62.0 102.8 82.5 60.514 FRENCH_MAT 340.3 243.3 128.3 44.1 3.5 408.1 351.9 206.8 119.6 5.4 67.9 108.6 78.5 75.5 1.9

OPTIONS FOR REDUCING NOISE EXPOSURE TO DC COMMUNITIES

• Modify RWY 01 departure track

• Evaluate higher departure altitudes

• Request MWAA revise Noise Complaint System

• Balance runway usage, “Preferential Runway Usage Program”

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RWY 01 DEPARTURE PATH ALTERNATIVE

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Number Name/Code Reduction(dBA)

1 FOX_CRESC_1 0.802 FOX_CRESC_2 0.663 FOX_CRESC_3 0.614 PALISADES 0.285 2316_BENTON 1.236 2901_M_ST 1.497 DEXTER_ST 0.728 NMT_4 0.159 NMT_6 1.66

10 NMT_A 0.3711 NMT_B 1.4212 NMT_C 0.4913 NMT_D 1.4114 FRENCH_MAT 1.45

PREFERENTIAL RUNWAY USE

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• Winds <5 knots, use South Flow or balance North/South flow (currently defaults to North flow)• Especially during nighttime hours (10pm – 7am)

• Could result in average annual DNL reduction of 1 to 3 dBA for communities in the District

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Request new 14 CFR PART 150 Noise Planning Study

• MWAA/FAA to revise/enforce “Nighttime Program”• Seek Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Working Group

• Continue to involve District leadership in Working Group

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CONCLUSIONS

• Historic and Present Data Assessments– Published routes– Actual procedures– Old and new noise monitoring data

• Field survey - Noise monitoring in the community

• Noise modeling of pre-NextGen and NextGen

• Recommendations– Viable changes in ATC procedures to minimize noise throughout the District

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CONTACT INFO

Dr. Rama Tangirala – rama.tangirala@dc.govDepartment of Energy & EnvironmentAir Quality DivisionMonitoring and Assessment BranchPhone: 202.535.2250

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