The ONCC released its 2022 Annual Report at their annual meeting on May 5.
Message from the Chair
The late Lee Iacocca, who successfully led both automobile giants Ford and Chrysler said, “the discipline of writing something down is the first step towards making it happen.” This summer at our strategic planning session, the Executive Committee discussed and wrote down a list of goals to guide us through our coming year. We took that first step, and I am happy to report we did make it happen.
TO EDUCATE AND INFORM MEMBERS We initiated the ad hoc Daytime Noise Committee, where our members heard from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experts regarding air traffic control management and the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) Program. Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) consultants also shared knowledge about runway operations, aircraft mechanisms, and policy topics. The Committee’s goal is to bring this information to the Technical Committee for an action plan and share the results with ONCC constituents. ONCC Members also heard presentations from FAA experts regarding the Terminal Area Plan Environmental Analysis (TAP EA) which resulted in a new noise contour superseding the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) Build-Out noise contour. The CDA presented O'Hare airfield construction updates to our membership along with an airfield tour—the first since the pandemic.
TO MONITOR THE NEW FLY QUIET PROGRAM STATUS On December 27, 2022, the CDA submitted the Fly Quiet Program Alternative B.3 proposal to the FAA for review. While the Fly Quiet Committee will not meet regularly, it will meet on an as-needed basis for status reports from the CDA and FAA. ONCC members approved the proposed new Fly Quiet Program in August 2022.
TO IMPLEMENT A FLY QUIET RECOGNITION PROGRAM It is said that “Recognition is the greatest motivator.” The Technical Committee had that same thought and believed that formally recognizing air carriers that followed Fly Quiet protocol would encourage them to keep up the good work and inspire other carriers to improve their actions. The Commission approved the award criteria at a special meeting held in February 2023. Based on the metrics established, Southwest Airlines received the highest award for major carriers, Air Wisconsin for regional carriers, and Atlas Air for cargo carriers and are the 2022 recipients of the Fly Quiet Recognition Award. Congratulations!
TO ADVOCATE POLICY MEASURES WITH LEGISLATORS, AIRLINES AND MANUFACTURERS ONCC initiated an ad hoc FAA Reauthorization Committee to set forth sound insulation and aircraft noise mitigation policy topic priorities and submit them to our federal lawmakers. The current FAA Reauthorization expires September 30, 2023, and we believed it was imperative to protect and promote ONCC interests on the record.
TO INVESTIGATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL SOUND INSULATION While the TAP EA noise contour and the FAA requirements may change eligibility for residential sound insulation, we are investigating whether some of the earliest schools sound insulated through the School Sound Insulation Program may be eligible for re-evaluation for possible additional funding for sound insulation. We are committed to pursuing all options. Finally, we celebrated 25 years of ONCC aircraft noise mitigation advocacy last October. Many believed that our work was ending with the completion of the O’Hare Modernization Program, however, that was just the first chapter of our legacy. There are many more lists to be drafted and many more steps to take to bring sound relief to the O’Hare region.
