Noise Policy in Effect at Peachtree DeKalb Airport (August, 2000)

The following are policy and operational actions addressing noise problems at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). These are based on information provided by the Airport Directors Ted Orvold and Lee Remmel and from other sources. They may or may not be in effect in 2001. Status is provided by PDK Watch and will be updated as new information is obtained.

DeKalb County Code

• No policy on noise. (Director Remmel)
• Excerpts from the Code of DeKalb County, Sec. 16-46, Noise: "It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual sound or noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others in the county, and which is audible to a person of normal hearing ability more than fifty (50) feet from the point of origin of the sound or noise." and "Blowers. The operation of any noise-creating blower or power fan or any internal combustion engine, the operation of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids, unless the noise from such blower or fan is muffled and the engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden this noise." (PDK Watch comments: Although not acknowledged by Airport Manager Lee Remmel, and as yet untested in a court of law, the noise provisions of the Code are quite explicit. In particular, jet aircraft are "blowers" as defined in Item 16 of the enumeration of noises declared to be in violation of the ordinance. Anybody seen a jet with a muffler?!)

Weight Limit

• In 1988 the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, addressing community fears of larger and heavier aircraft using PDK, stated in its ruling, “the proposal expressly maintains the current weight limitation of 66,000 pounds. The proposed runway extension is not designed to accommodate operations by aircraft larger than the ones currently using PDK. Therefore, the petitioners’ fear that the runway extension will cause a significant impact because of the introduction of larger types of aircraft and heavier loads is unjustified.”
• An FAA Regional Administrator advised Senator Max Cleland that the Court “made a statement in its ruling that the weight bearing capacity of the runway was 66,000 pounds."
• Airport Director attempted to raise weight limit up to 105,000 pounds in January 1999.
• Aircraft limited to weight under 75,000 pounds unless Airport Director allows higher weight. (Director Remmel)

Noise Compatibility Program (Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150)

• North flow preferential runway use program. (Director Remmel) (Implemented)
• Institute three Standard Instrument Departures. (Director Remmel)
• Institute Visual Flight Rule (VFR) departure routes. (Director Remmel)
• Implement VFR departure routes. (Approved Noise Compatibility Program)
• Revise ATIS recorded message. (Director Remmel - Implemented)
• FAA Letter to Airmen. (Director Remmel)
• Install airfield signage. (Director Remmel)
• Revise noise abatement pamphlet for pilots. (Director Remmel)
• Purchase NOMS (Noise and Operations Monitoring System). (Director Remmel - Implemented)
• Land acquisition and relocation program. (Director Remmel - Completed 2000)
• Sound insulation program for homes. (Director Remmel)
• Follow-on “informal” building code revision. (Director Remmel)
• Findings into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. (Director Remmel)
• Voluntary night curfew. (Director Remmel - Implemented)
• Construct maintenance runup area and west side of runway 2R/2L. (Noise Compatility Program)
• Annually review effectiveness of noise compatibility program implementation.(Noise Compatibility Program)
• Implement informal environmental review process.(Noise Compatibility Program)
• Implement informal building code revision. (Noise Compatibility Program)
• Incorporate findings in the comprehensive plan. (Noise Compatibility Program)

Airport Facility Directory

• Noise sensitive areas, all quadrants. (Director Remmel)
• Pilots use NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) “close-in” departure procedures. (Director Remmel)
• No high power engine maintenance runups during curfew hours.

Other Noise Reduction/Distribution Measures

• Raised traffic pattern. (Director Orvold)
• No high power engine checks near residential areas. (Director Orvold)
• No intersection take-offs allowed. (Director Orvold)
• Full time noise abatement specialist employed. (Director Orvold - implemented)
• Position changed to environmental and noise specialist.
• Aircraft noise abatement advisory committee created. (Director Orvold)
• Committee disbanded around 1992 at request of community groups.
• Hold Neighbor Day each year to demonstrate noise levels of different aircraft. (Director Orvold - implemented)
• Established helicopter training patterns away from residential areas. (Director Orvold)
• Provided 24-hour noise complaint telephone. (Director Orvold - implemented)
• Rotation of runway use whenever possible. (Director Orvold - preferential overrides)
• Published layman’s type booklet on engine noise for general public. (Director Orvold)
• Letters to corporations using jet aircraft requesting them to schedule flights during daylight hours whenever possible. (Director Orvold)
• Requested flight schools to include noise abatement in pilot training. (Director Orvold)
• Encouraged student pilots to use outlying fields for touch and go training. (Director Orvold)