1. What can the Venice Municipal Airport do about aircraft noise?

    

   The Airport has implemented a voluntary “Fly Friendly” program which includes information for pilots regarding preferred runway use and flight procedures to mitigate noise. The airport cannot require airplanes to follow these measures as they are strictly voluntary. Federal law prohibits us from enforcing any of these procedures.

    

2. How do I report a noise concern to the airport?

    

   You can either submit an online noise concern here or call our noise hotline at 941-882-7255

    

3. How do I report a noise concern to the FAA?

    

   You can submit a noise concern directly to the FAA using this link.

4. Will filing a noise complaint change how the airport operates?                                                                                                                              

   The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the sole authority in determining where aircraft will fly and how the airport operates. These decisions are made solely on standard air traffic control procedures. Noise complaints are not considered by the FAA when making these decisions. However, aircraft noise and flight activity complaints are used in conjunction with flight tracking data to determine compliance with noise abatement procedures, corroborate specific events, or identify possible trends. The Venice Municipal Airport can answer questions, provide data, and help residents understand aircraft operations.

   It is important to know that aircraft noise complaints alone cannot change how the airport operates. Where aircraft fly, as well as their associated noise levels, depends on factors such as wind and weather, the number of arrivals and departures, the time of day, construction activity on airport grounds, and other conditions, all of which play a part in how an airport operates at any given time.

5. Why do the airplanes fly over my neighborhood?

    

   Airplanes take off and land into the wind so as the wind direction changes, pilots will use different runways for take off or landing. We have preferential runway use for noise mitigation with a high rate of compliance.

    

6. Can the airport change the flight paths into the airport?

    

   The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sovereign control over all airspace above the United States and its Territories. Neither the City of Venice nor airport staff have the legal authority to mandate specific flight paths. We are only allowed to ask pilots to abide by recommended and voluntary noise abatement procedures. Any change in departure or arrival flight paths must be approved and implemented by the FAA.

    

7. What are noise contours?

    

   Noise contours highlight existing or potential areas of significant aircraft noise exposure (as identified by the FAA) and are a series of lines superimposed on a map of the airport’s environs. These contours are calculated using an FAA approved study. These contours can be placed on a map known as a Noise Exposure Map (NEM) which show the average noise levels for the 65 DNL, 70 DNL and 75 DNL. The last NEM completed by Venice Municipal Airport shows that the 65 DNL does not leave airport property (see image below). There will be a new NEM completed with the airports Master Plan update.            

8. What are the rules regarding how low an aircraft can fly over a residential area? 

   Aircraft altitude is established by Federal law. Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Section 91.119 which governs flight states: “Except when necessary for takeoff of landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitude: Over any congested area of a city, town or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.” It is important to be aware of two aspects of this regulation. First, most aircraft operating near Venice Airport are in the process of landing or taking off, thus this regulation might not apply. Second, helicopters are specifically exempted from this Federal regulation.

9. How can I track flights at the Venice Municipal Airport?

   You can view live flight tracks at VNC using FlightAware by clicking this link.

10. Why are your noise abatement procedures voluntary and not mandatory like some other airports?                                                                                                                                                                          Airports with mandatory restrictions, imposed those programs before the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 was passed. After the passing of ANCA, public use airports are unable to impose restrictions of any type on any airplanes that fly into the airport. ANCA also required a substantial reduction in noise by aircraft manufacturers. All aircraft flying in and out of VNC meet these noise requirements.

     

11. Are pilots required to follow noise abatement procedures?

     

    No. Noise abatement procedures are voluntary measures that supplement the required measures pilots must adhere to for safe operation of their aircraft.

     

12. What noise abatement efforts have been made by VNC?

• Obtained specialized flight tracking software to verify compliance of all Federal Air Regulations and compliance of our recommended noise abatement procedures.
• Installed multiple signs in the airfield regarding our “Fly Friendly” program and preferred noise mitigating procedures. 
• Established preferred calm wind runway operations on runway 23 for departures and runway 5 for arrivals.
• Regularly communicate with airport tenants and users the importance of flying friendly and make all preferred noise reducing procedures available to the flying public.
• Made notes on the airport Chart Supplement and Automated Weather Observation Station regarding noise procedures at VNC.

  13. Why do some aircraft seem louder than others?

Weather plays an influential role in where aircraft noise travels. As the temperature heats up, the   atmosphere becomes less dense. The low density enables sound waves to travel more horizontally through lower pressure air. This means an aircraft operating here in Florida during the winter will be heard further away than an aircraft operating in a much colder area like New York. Clouds and wind will also cause sound waves to be altered. Sound will be reflected from the clouds and back to earth, not allowing it to disperse in the atmosphere. Wind will redirect sound waves downwind from the aircraft it originated from.

14. Can aircraft engine emissions cause soot on my home?

Aircraft emissions have NOT been found to create soot on homes. There have been various research projects conducted at airports in which the researchers collect samples from exhaust plumes behind aircraft. The studies have yet to conclude that the particulate matter emissions from aircraft are significant contributors to the material deposited on surrounding communities (Task 5: Investigating air emission impacts on the community, 2006). The black roof stains are classified as a black algae, called Gloeocapsa magma, a cyanobacteria (Clark, 2013).

The recent prevalence of the black algae may be due to the increased usage of limestone in shingles (“Black or Green Algae Stains on Asphalt Roof Shingles,” 2018). Blackened roofs are more common in warm, humid climates and are most often mistaken for dirt, moss, or granule loss (Algae discoloration of shingles, 2017).

Image credit: Clark, 2013

In 2006, the Broward County Aviation Department conducted a study to analyze the air emissions impact on their community from their airport. The researchers were unable to identify any particulate matter that looked representative of known aircraft engine-generated particles. The material that were found did not include any petroleum hydrocarbons or similar compounds. The study noted that there is particle matter being deposited on homes and buildings, however; the particulate matter found is not aviation related (Task 5: Investigating air emission impacts on the community, 2006).

It is important to note that there are multiple sources of particulate matter that could potentially stain roofs in our community. The sources include fungi, pollen, industrial emissions, diesel and gasoline exhaust, dust (including rubber dust from I75 or US41), and ash. The ash is especially notable, as there are regular controlled burnings in our nearby conservation areas to prevent forest fires.

References

Algae discoloration of shingles (13). (2017). Retrieved from Canadian Asphalt Shingle

Manufacturers’ Association website: https://inspectapedia.com/roof/Algae-Discoloration-of-Shingles-CASMA.pdf

Black or Green Algae Stains on Asphalt Roof Shingles. (2018). Retrieved from https://inspectapedia.com/roof/Shingle_Algae_Stains.php#Cause

Clark, P. (2013, June 18). Roof algae: The prehistoric organism that streaks your shingles.

Reid, A. (2015, September 30). Beginning of sugar cane harvest reignites field burning debate.

Sun Sentinel. Retrieved from https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-cane-burning-resumes-20150930-story.html

Task 5: Investigating air emission impacts on the community. (2006). Retrieved from Broward County Aviation Department

To learn more about our recommended noise abatement procedures please see the map below: