NOISE COMPLAINT HOTLINE - Columbus Regional Airport Authority

NOISE
COMPLAINT
HOTLINE
Annual Report 2011

INTRODUCTION
The Columbus Regional Airport Authority
(CRAA) owns and operates Port Columbus
International, Rickenbacker International,
and Bolton Field Airports. As part of
CRAA’s commitment to strengthen our
relationship with the community and
our neighbors, the noise compliant
hotline was installed in 1987 and is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
for the submission of noise complaints.
Noise complaints can be submitted by
calling the hotline or emailing the noise
complaint response team directly. For
more information on submitting a noise
complaint, please see the final page of
this report.
The purpose of this report is to summarize
the 2011 noise complaints and operations
related statistics for all three CRAA
airports. Data from previous years is
provided as well throughout the report in
order to provide a historical perspective of
noise complaints and operation levels at
each airport.
Port Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Role of Airport
Primary passenger airport
in Columbus, Ohio
Runways
10L/28R – 8,000 feet
10R/28L – 10,125 feet
General Location
6 miles northeast of
downtown with
automobile access
from I-270 and I-670
Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)
Role of Airport
Primary cargo airport in
Columbus, Ohio
Runways
5L/23R – 11,902 feet
5R/23L – 12,102 feet
General Location
10 miles southeast of
downtown with
automobile access
from I-270
Bolton Field Airport (TZR)
Role of Airport
General aviation reliever
airport in Columbus, Ohio
Runway
4/22 – 5,500 feet
General Location
8 miles southwest
of downtown with
automobile access
from I-270

CRAA 2010 Noise
Complaint Locations
The map the the left shows the locations
of all noise complaints (for which we have
geographic information) received regarding
CRAA airports in 2011. In the past, noise
complaints have been concentrated along
the extended runway centerline of each
airport, meaning that noise complaints tend
to come from the areas located straight
out from the ends of the runways. This
is a pattern which continues to hold true
in 2011. Complaints are largely centered
around areas of dense and emerging
residential development, such as to the east
of Port Columbus and to the northeast and
east of Rickenbacker.
400,000
Columbus Regional Airport Authority
2002-2011
300
200
Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Annual Noise Complaints, All Airports 2002-2011
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
190
176
146
131
87 89
79 82
72
36
372,331
341,330
340,055
327,852
313,957
288,557
242,521
212,091
205,218
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
10-Year Average
Complaints
195,725
250
200
150
100
50
0
Annual Noise Complaints
Noise Complaints
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
10 -Year
Average
109 Complaints
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20102 02011
Port Columbus Rickenbacker Bolton Field
CRAA Noise Complaint Levels At Their Lowest Recorded Level
Total noise complaint levels for all three CRAA airports dropped to their lowest recorded level. In 2011, CRAA received 36 complaints
compared to the 72 complaints received in 2010. This is partially due decreased number of aircraft operations, and increased use of newer,
quieter aircraft by the airlines. The CRAA has also undertaken a number of noise compatibility projects since 2002, such as the expansion of
the Residential Sound Insulation Program, construction of noise maintenance run-up barriers at Port Columbus, community outreach about
the noise program, and the implementation of noise abatement flight procedures at both Port Columbus and Rickenbacker. Finally, the stateof-the-art
noise and flight track monitoring system has also proved to be a valuable tool in allowing the noise complaint response team to
provide the most accurate aircraft noise and operations information possible to the public in a timely and efficient manner.

Port Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Port Columbus Complaints At
Lowest Levels on Record
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
255,630
237,979
230,675
216,724
196,082
169
113 116
88
173,984
155,914
146,437
136,081
135,374
40 46 44 43
25
14
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006262007272008282009292010 2011
10-Year Average
Complaints
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Annual Noise Complaints
Noise complaints at Port Columbus International Airport
have decreased over recent years and are at their lowest,
with 14 complaints for 2011. This is a noteable reduction
in noise complaints compared to the average number of
complaints for the past five years which was approximately
40 a year. This decrease in noise complaints coincides with
steadily decreasing annual aircraft operations numbers since
2002. The phasing in of quieter aircraft on the part of the
airlines as well as implementation of the Residential Sound
Insulation program, have also contributed to the decreased
number of noise complaints since 2002. Port Columbus
accounted for 39% of the total noise complaints filed
regarding CRAA airports in 2011.
Port Columbus
International Airport
Noise Complaints
by Community
7%
Blacklick
(1 complaint)
43%
Gahanna
(6 complaints)
29%
Columbus
(4 complaints)
7%
Hilliard
(1 complaint)
14%
Reynoldsburg
(2 complaints)
Gahanna and Columbus Submit
72 Percent of Port Columbus
Noise Complaints in 2011
Columbus and Gahanna have historically submitted the
majority of the complaints regarding Port Columbus, a
trend which continued in 2011. Combined, Columbus and
Gahanna submitted 72% of the noise complaints submitted
regarding Port Columbus. The Cities of Columbus and
Gahanna receive the highest noise levels of any of Port
Columbus’ neighbors due to their proximity to the airport’s
runway ends. In 2011, Gahanna residents registered 43
percent of the noise complaints regarding Port Columbus,
while Columbus residents registered 29 percent.
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
860
447
303
Engine Maintenance Run-ups
2002-2011
179
191
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Runups
Average Number of Maintence Runups
180
357
10-Year Average
292 Run-ups
197
91
119
Number of Nighttime Aircraft
Maintenance Run-ups Increase
from 2010
A total of 119 nighttime aircraft maintenance run-ups
were performed at Port Columbus in 2011, up from 91
in 2010 but down from 197 performed in 2009. The
10-year average for nighttime aircraft maintenance
run-ups continues to decrease. In order to keep engine
maintenance run-up noise from unnecessarily seeping
out into the community, three noise barriers have been
constructed at Port Columbus to absorb some of the
noise generated by these run-ups and keep as much of
the noise on airport property as possible. All nighttime
engine maintenance run-ups are documented and
monitored by CRAA staff.

Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK)
Noise Complaints Decrease at
Rickenbacker
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
41,872
36,513
40,231
56,998
66,702
71,340
53,150
40,586
44,516
39,424
51
42 42 41
34
38
46
23
21
6
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006262007 2008 2009 2010 2011
10-Year Average
Complaints
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Annual Noise Complaints
Noise complaint figures decreased more than half at
Rickenbacker International Airport in 2011, with 21 complaints
being filed compared to 46 in 2010. Rickenbacker accounted
for 58 percent of the total noise complaints filed regarding
CRAA airports in 2011. The reduction for 2011 is attributed to
a reduction in flight operations due to the ongoing stagnant
economic environment. Over the last ten years, Rickenbacker
has accounted for an increased percentage of CRAA’s total
noise complaints. While a portion of the percentage increase
is due to the reduction in the number of noise complaints
being filed regarding Port Columbus, military and air
carrier training operations, as well as increased residential
development in the Groveport and Canal Winchester areas,
have contributed to this overall percentage increase.
Rickenbacker
International Airport
Noise Complaints
by Community
5%
Pataskala
(1 complaint)
48%
Pickerington
(10 complaints)
33%
Groveport
(7 complaints)
9%
Canal Winchester
(2 complaints)
5%
Gahanna
(1 complaint)
Pickerington Registers Majority
of Rickenbacker Noise
Complaints
The City of Pickerington registered the greatest
percentage of noise complaints regarding Rickenbacker,
submitting 48 percent of the total complaints filed.
Complaints from Groveport decreased 41 percent
this year compared to 2010 levels, representing a
total of 33 percent of Rickenbacker complaints. The
majority of the noise complaints regarding activities at
Rickenbacker were concerning military and air carrier
operations.

Bolton Field Airport (TZR)
Bolton Field Airport
Noise Complaints Levels Remain
Low at Bolton Field
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
74,829
66,838
69,149
54,130
51,173
26
7
5
1
1
43,233
33,457
25,068
24,621
20,927
2 1 1 1 1
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006262007272008 2009 2010 2011
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Annual Noise Complaints
One noise complaint was filed regarding Bolton Field
Airport in 2011. The number of noise complaints
generated regarding Bolton Field have historically
been very low in years where no aerobatic activity has
occurred at the airport, and remain well below the ten
year average of five complaints being filed per year.
Total operations have also decreased steadily at Bolton
Field since 2004, which has contributed to the low noise
complaint levels observed since that time. Total aircraft
operations at Bolton Field dropped 15% in 2011 in
comparison to 2010 levels.
Complaints
10-Year Average

Submitting a Noise Complaint
Noise complaints can be submitted to CRAA’s noise complaint response team via
two methods. Complaints can be filed by leaving a voice message on the noise
complaint hotline at (614)239-4065. Noise complaints can also be submitted
electronically via email sent to NoiseAbatementOffice@ColumbusAirports.com .
The noise complaint response team strives to provide the best available
information regarding noise compatibility issues and will respond to every noise
complaint that is submitted. For immediate results regarding specific aircraft
operations, please visit CRAA’s flight-tracking website through the link provided at
www.columbusairports.com/noise-program/flight-tracking/. This web application
provides the public with the opportunity to obtain aircraft radar and noise data on
demand.
For further questions or comments regarding this report, please contact:
Phil Gwiner
Planning and Construction Administration
Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Email: philipgwiner@columbusairports.com
Telephone: (614) 239-3133