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Updated 03/17/06
The City of Scottsdale received Federal Funding for a update to the existing 14 CFR
Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study which was approved by the City Council on August 26,
2003.
Coffman Associates was the selected consultant who conducted the Study on the City's
behalf. Public participation was solicited throughout the duration of the Study, and
formal invitations were disseminated for five public workshops and one public hearing over
the 19-month Study period. Recommendations for Noise Abatement, Land Use, and Program
Management measures were discussed and approved by the Scottsdale City Council on April
19, 2005. Documents from the completed Part 150 Study can be viewed
here.
The Federal Aviation Administration has reviewed the Study.
If you have specific questions pertaining to the results of the Study,
please call (480) 312-2321 or 602-993-6999, or you may email
airport noise staff.
Noise Compatibility Studies (14 CFR Part 150)
Airports are not required to conduct noise compatibility studies.
Scottsdale commissioned one of the first noise compatibility studies by a General Aviation
airport in 1984. The orginial Noise
Contour Map - Exhibit H (gif / 729KB), was updated in 1991 and a
thorough study and Future
Noise Contour Map (2005) - Exhibit 4G (gif / 714KB) were
developed through the 1997 Noise Compatibility Program update.
The 14 CFR Part 150 Study process enables communities to plan for compatible land use
around airports to minimize the impact from incompatible land uses on the airport, and
visa versa. Further information on the 14 CFR Part 150 process and the Integrated Noise
Model (INM) used to model and depict aircraft noise can be found at the FAA's Part 150
homepage.
Activate the links below to
view the Executive Summary to the 1997 Airport Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study. As
soon as the FAA review is completed for the 2005 Study, the results will be posted here.
The Noise Compatibility planning process is the only
"regulatory" avenue available to local airport operators for addressing airport
noise issues. However, the City of Scottsdale also uses the 14 CFR Part 150 Study process
to raise awareness of aircraft noise issues and pilot education of recommended noise
abatement procedures.
Airport Noise Compatibility Efforts
The City of Scottsdale has a long history of proactive noise abatement efforts:
- In 1978, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1757 jointly with the City of Phoenix
to designate Sky Harbor Airport for air carrier aircraft (DC-8, DC-9, B707, B727, B737,
B747) while developing Scottsdale Airport as a reliever airport with only commuter airline
service.
- In 1980, the City Council ordered the sale of excess airport land to lessen the
chances the airport would have additional runways or accommodate Air Carrier type aircraft
in the future.
- In 1984 after a lengthy Environmental Impact Study process, while the runway was
lengthened to accommodate jets year-round, it was shifted 3500 feet to the northeast to
raise altitudes of arriving aircraft over the residential areas southwest of the runway.
- The 1985 Airport Master Plan recommended no additional runways, virtually assuring that
Scottsdale Airport will remain a single-runway airport for the foreseeable future.
- The Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights at the runway ends are set at the
maximum 4 degrees instead of the standard 3 degrees to encourage aircraft approaches to be
as high as safely possible.
- In 1996, lighted noise abatement reminder signs were installed at the ends of both
runways to encourage and remind pilots to use of noise abatement procedures.
- The landing thresholds at both runway ends have been displaced to help raise the
altitude of arriving aircraft over residential areas. The Runway 03 landing
threshold at the south end of the airport is displaced 750' to the northeast, and at the
northern end of the airport the Runway 21 landing threshold is displaced 400' to the
southwest.
- In 1998 Noise Abatement displays and pilot guides were placed in flight schools and
fixed base operators at other valley airports to inform pilots who may only occasionally
use Scottsdale Airport on local noise abatement procedures.
- In 2004, Scottsdale Airport staff worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and
local helicopter operators to update the helicopter letter of agreement for based
helicopter operators; and developed a helicopter pilot guide as a reference tool for
transient pilots.
- In 2005, monthly pilot briefings were held to help increase safety and awareness for
noise abatement recommendations.
Ongoing Noise Reduction Efforts
In addition to the Noise Compatibility Planning process, the City of
Scottsdale is engaged in ongoing efforts to reduce the effect of aircraft overflights and
noise.
- Creation of a Northeast Valley Regional Pilot Guide to inform pilots about terrain
elevations and traffic corridors that create noise sensitive areas in the northeast valley
- Developing high-tech pilot education tools such as "Pilot-eye movies" to
educate pilots of noise sensitive areas that can be avoided with some awareness and
pre-planning
- Engaging the FAA in constructive dialog regarding airspace and air traffic issues
- Participating in the Phoenix Airspace User Working Group (PAUWG) to cooperatively
identify air traffic problems and solutions with airspace users, the FAA, communities and
airport operators
- Partnering with aviation organizations (AOPA, NBAA, AzBAA) to further pilot awareness
and noise abatement education
- Partnering with the FAA and valley flight schools to form a safety and education forum
for flight training and noise issues
- Parnering with residents to identify noise issues and evaluate possible solutions
- Monitoring ongoing legal issues involving airports noise reduction efforts involving 14
CFR Part 161, Naples airport and proposed Federal legislation
Community Outreach Efforts
The City of Scottsdale is actively engaged in constructive community
dialog regarding aviation issues through homeowner associations (HOA) newsletters,
presentations and real estate seminars, etc. If you would like to have a presentation on
any aspect of Scottsdale Airport/Airpark or aviation noise issues for your HOA, business
or group, please email
the Scottsdale Airport staff or call (480) 312-2321 during normal business hours.
In the past there has been significant public involvement on airport noise issues in
addition to the 14 CFR Part 150 noise compatibility public processes. One notable effort
is known as the Phoenix Ad Hoc Committee on noise that resulted in the "Phoenix 28
recommendations" for noise abatement. Many of the committee's recommendations were
regarding regulatory measures that were not legal under Federal law or were not supported
by the Cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale. The Phoenix
28 recommendations (pdf / 2137KB / 10 pages) and the FAA
response (pdf / 2349KB / 13 pages) are very informative and
remain true today, inspite of their age (1988).
In 1989, the City again re-examined several elements of the airport noise program in
"A Focus on Community Issues" (pdf / 2618KB /
21 pages).
Additionally, following the 1997 14 CFR Part Noise Compatibility Study approval, the
airport formed an ad hoc Community Working Group (CWG) to further address citizen concerns
about aircraft noise. A significant number of meetings were held and the CWG Meeting
Minutes contain a significant amount of information on aircraft noise abatement, flight
paths and previous airport/community dialog.
A review of the 1997 14 CFR Part 150 Study public testimony, the Phoenix 28
recommendations; and the Community Working Group minutes reveals that past noise issues
are similar to the current noise issues. This is not unexpected as there has been little
change in Federal legislation that permits noisy aircraft to fly, and precludes local
airports abilities to enact new noise regulations after 1990.
15000 N. Airport Drive, 2nd Floor, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 312-2321 (480) 312-8480 Fax
(Located
at Butherus Drive and North Airport Drive) see map