Airport’s noise exposure maps to be updated

INDIANAPOLIS—Noise impacts caused by aircraft traveling to and from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) will be mapped by consultants in a project recently approved by the Indianapolis Airport Authority.

Landrum & Brown, who have extensive national experience with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and procedures for the preparation of noise exposure maps, will lead the effort. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati and has offices worldwide.

Landrum & Brown will be responsible for collecting data which will include verification of noise generated by aircraft, current and future aircraft fleet mix, present level of aircraft operations, and a forecast of future operations. The data will then be processed by an FAA-accepted model to generate IND noise contours.

The FAA recommends noise exposure maps, or NEMs, be updated every five years. IND’s existing maps were last updated in 2003.

“This is a routine study that will ultimately provide a graphic representation of airport noise contours that may impact local communities. The data collected will be used to develop an impact forecast through 2013 and to analyze the effectiveness of the airport’s existing noise compatibility plan,” explained Robert Duncan, airport director.

Public input and participation will be sought through a series of public information meetings. “The meetings will be advertised in advance and conducted at times convenient for interested individuals to review the maps and other information before it is submitted to the FAA,” Duncan said.

Each public information meeting will include an opportunity for attendees to share their input. A formal public hearing to solicit final feedback will be held before the updated NEMs are submitted to the FAA.

For more information about the airport’s sound and noise management program, visit www.ind.com. Go to the airport operations tab and click the link for “sound and noise management.” This Web page includes a link for citizens to ask questions and provide feedback as well as to register their concerns about airport noise.