Jessica Dunn

Residential Communities and Airports

As with any large-scale commercial operation, airports are characterized by noise, smells, fumes, dirt and traffic. And like any large-scale commercial operation situated next to a residential community, airports can make for a bad neighbor. While noise is the most common complaint, people living near airports are also concerned about the impacts on the environment, their health and their housing values.

Battles between airports and their neighbors over noise are common across the country. "The noise is most disruptive. Where I live, you can't sleep after 6:30 in the morning. Closer in, jets fly overhead, walls shake, windows rattle, school classes have to stop what they're doing. You can't even carry on a conversation," says an Islip, NY resident. (1) He lives near MacArthur Airport that previously served small, fairly quiet passenger planes and an occasional jet. Increased service has brought bigger planes, more traffic and much more noise.

The noise is also an issue for airports trying to keep neighbors happy. Even though modern jets are one-fourth as loud as earlier aircraft, airports are still relying on restricted flight patterns, curfews and other tactics to try to limit noise. (2) These efforts come at significant cost. For example, in order to meet the legal requirements of state and federal noise standards, LAX has spent $200 million since 1997 in noise mitigation efforts, including installing air conditioning units in the homes of some of its residential neighbors. Hundreds of other airports are required to do the same. San Jose has installed central air to 1,400 homes since 1985. Nashville, Cincinnati, Palm Beach, Atlanta, Phoenix and Chicago's O'Hare and Midway are on the long list of airports that have provided soundproofing to neighboring homes. The FAA provides $80 million a year for residential soundproofing. (3)

The severity of the noise conflict and the cost are not limited to noise abatement efforts. Many of the larger battles end up in the courts, costing both residents and airports even more.

Environmental impacts are another concern of airport neighbors. Organized groups throughout the world have protested airport expansion projects and everyday operations because of the air and water pollution that they create. The air emissions are particularly upsetting since airplanes are not regulated with the same scrutiny as other industry. The Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare (ARCO) is a citizen group concerned about the noise, environmental and health impacts of the busy Chicago airport. They have been urging regulatory authorities to monitor O'Hare as a single source so that they can know what is coming from the airport and its planes and what they are being exposed to. The Illinois EPA has admitted that O'Hare is probably the biggest emitter of hazardous pollutants in the state. (4)

In 1995, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) studied the most critical environmental issues of airports. They were noise and land use, ground-level air emissions, water pollution and on a more global scale, climate change. The report identifies that aircraft are emitting increasing levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) each year. These pollutants are the precursors to ground level ozone, better known as smog. For example, Bradley Airport in Connecticut had 36,506 landing and takeoff cycles in 1993. These operations resulted in the emission of 128 tons of VOCs and 342 tons of NOx. (5) Even small airports are big polluters. Further, airport operations such as deicing generally take place on the tarmac, resulting in chemical runoff entering nearby waterways.

Environmental contamination raises a public health concern. Neighbors wonder what the smells, fumes and chemicals mean for their health. Many of the studies that have been conducted on the links between airports and their health impacts are the result of concerned citizens and grassroots efforts. In Boston, the Winthrop Environmental Health Facts Subcommittee conducted their own study of the correlation between respiratory disease and distance from the airport. They found "for the most common respiratory diseases, asthma and allergy, disease is twice as common in the most heavily exposed neighborhood as it is in the least exposed". (6) Winthrop is subject to noise and odors of burned and unburned airline fuel.

In Washington State, two citizens decided to investigate the rumor in their community of elevated levels of cancer. Because there was no other industry in the area, they suspected SeaTac as the source. By conducting surveys and mapping responses, the women believed they had identified clusters of cancer, specifically glioblastoma. Their persistence and work has generated an investigation by the state health department. Preliminary studies show elevated rates of cancer within three miles of the airport.

What are the noise and odors doing to the value of my home and property? In addition to the nuisance and concerns for health, airport neighbors also worry about declining real estate values. There are dozens of studies on this topic and they all come to the same basic conclusion: homes under or nearby the flight corridors of large airports experience some decrease in property market values. (7)

There are thousands of airports throughout the world and millions of airport neighbors. Citizens Aviation Watch is an international umbrella organization comprised of groups interested in a sustainable, equitable and accountable aviation industry. Member groups act as watchdogs of their local airports, paying particular attention to noise, environmental and health impacts, and property interests. They share information and studies such as those mentioned above and on related topics such as the impact of airport noise on children and their learning.

Cleveland has witnessed the concern that airport expansion and operation can create. Hundreds of Cleveland Hopkins neighbors turned out to a series of meetings in 1998 to voice opinions about the proposed expansion. Many suggested that a regional airport should be built in a rural area to spare the nuisance to any more residents. Others complained of soot and oil being deposited on homes and cars from airplanes passing overhead. One gentleman complained that he was a prisoner in his own home because he had to keep his windows closed. (8) The Mayor of the City of Parma pointed out that residents of his city are burdened by the airport, but receive little economic value from its operations. Representative Dennis Kucinich took a stand against airport expansion without further studies of environmental and health impacts and an investigation of alternative solutions, such as redirecting traffic to other airports in the area. The common theme appeared to be that airports are a nuisance and growing airports are even worse.

Residents living near airports have a number of concerns. Although noise is the most commonly voiced, due to grassroots efforts more attention is being spent in recent years identifying the effects of airport pollution on human health and the environment. Studies have confirmed the detrimental impacts of airport noise and pollution on health and property values. The FAA and individual airports are spending a lot of money to mitigate these impacts. It seems apparent, from both the perspective of the airport and the neighboring resident, that housing and airports are two uses that should not be mixed.

(1) Conte, Christpher. Increasing Noise at Many Airports Sparks Uproar Between Homeowners and Airlines; Wall Street Journal, Sep. 9, 1985.
(2) Conte, Christpher. Increasing Noise at Many Airports Sparks Uproar Between Homeowners and Airlines; Wall Street Journal, Sep. 9, 1985.
(3) Kasindorf, Martin. Airport Noise? L.A. neighbors are cool with it Nearby Homes get free air conditioning; USA Today, May 22, 2000.
(4) Saporito, Jack. ARCO on Air Pollution. Dec. 17, 1996. (www.eltoroairport.org/issues/acro_poltn.html)
(5) NRDC, Flying Off Course; Environmental Impacts of America's Airports. January 1995.
(6) Dumser, Brian, Ph.D. Winthrop Community Health Survey. August 18, 1999. (www.eltoroairport.org/issues/loganstudy.html)
(7) Bell, Randall. The Impact of Airport Noise on Residential Real Estate. The Appraisal Journal, July 2001.
(8) Sartin, David. Kucinich Meets with Neighbors about Hopkins Expansion Plans. The Plain Dealer, Oct. 22, 1998.