by Maureen Shul

The FAA Grant to update the noise contours has been issued and signed by Centennial Airport and Ararahoe County Boards. Work on the noise contour updates will now begin and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Centennial Airport had to reapply for funding to update the contour maps because they had become outdated in the wait for the FAA to approve them.

Once the FAA approves the updated noise contour maps, the 180-day public comment period will begin.

The Part 150 Noise Study contains twelve recommendations that impact such issues as the current departure tracks, type of allowed aircraft at night, amending zone ordinances, and installation of noise monitoring systems. For more information and a complete list of the twelve recommendations, sign onto www.centennialairport.com.

The pending Part 150 Noise Study for Centennial Airport is the second longest process recorded.

Noise Complaints

Because the main runway at Centennial Airport was closed in August for repair maintenance, there were more noise complaints recorded that month due to the change in flight patterns.

Year to date, there have been 8,164 noise complaints received by Centennial Airport. It is important to note that out of 150 households reporting, the top five households account for 82 percent of the complaints received.

Amazingly, the top household reporting accounts for 32 percent of the complaints received. That breaks down to 2,611 noise complaint calls from one household year to date.

For more information on the Centennial Airport noise issues, contact Tracey Wright, Centennial Noise Specialist, at 303-790-0598, ext. 2909.