Deborah W. Murphy
Environmental Affairs, Sarasota Bradenton Intl. Airport, P.O. Box 13399, Sarasota, FL 34278-3399
While aircraft noise annoyance does not cause a negative impact on public health, it does affect public welfare. Airports around the country are constantly looking for innovative ways to reduce the impact of airport operations on their neighbors. The Airport's Residential Sound Attenuation Pilot Project is one of several ways the airport has played an active role in the community, to help improve their neighbors' quality of life. The Pilot Project was an initial demonstration which introduced the concept of sound attenuation to residents of homes located between the DNL 65- and 75-dB noise contours. Implemented as part of the Airport's FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program, the Project was designed to provide costing information, design guidelines, and construction methodology for a possible continuing program in which all eligible homes could be sound attenuated. The overall results of the program were extremely successful, providing four homes with a substantial reduction of interior noise levels due to aircraft overflights. The Pilot Project was successful not only as a demonstration of sound attenuation effectiveness, but also as a public relations program in that it showed evidence of the Airport's commitment to address noise as an issue of importance to the community.