New System Allows BTV Airport to Analyze Noise Data and Community Members to Track
Noise Events Through Online Portal
Burlington, VT – Today, the Burlington International Airport announced the installation of a
flight tracking and noise monitoring system, paid for by grant funding from the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA). Through the use of permanent noise monitors located in
affected areas, the Airport will be able to measure noise levels associated with aircraft
operations and provide information to individuals and communities affected by Airport
operations through an online portal.
“This system is a representation of the collaborative effort among the local community and
I am grateful for these partnerships,” said Nic Longo, Acting Director or Aviation. “Without
the support and funding provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, through their
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Noise Compatibility Program, this project would not
be possible. I feel this system will allow community members to have a tool at their
disposal to provide noise feedback, which will inform future noise analysis.”
BTV applied for and was awarded Airport Improvement (AIP) funds to install a system to
track flights and monitor noise. The information collected through the tracking system,
Vector, will correlate to a database as well as feedback submitted by individuals. This
database will allow the Airport to more accurately analyze noise trends, as well as provide a
basis for the airport to develop a noise abatement program. It should be noted that not all
military operation paths will be visible on the flight tracking system, but their associated
noise will be recorded. A public portal will be made available for individuals to view at:
www.btvsound.com. Materials are available translated into Swahili, Mandarin, Arabic, and
Bosnian.
This tool will show decibel levels (dbA) for single noise events, which are not used within
the required FAA Noise Models and will allow residents throughout the area to view noise
events from single aircraft.
Currently the newly acquired operational noise monitors are located at Winooski City Hall
and the Chamberlain School in South Burlington. A third monitor is to be installed in
Williston, whose site has been located, and will be operational by the end of the year. The
Airport expects to maintain operations of these monitors for up to 3 years.
"I would like to thank the Burlington International Airport for hearing the voices of
Winooski residents who have asked for more transparent access to noise data. I hope this
public portal will allow concerned residents in the flight path to understand the extent of
their noise exposure with a monitor placed right in downtown Winooski,” said City of
Winooski Mayor Kristine Lott. “We appreciate the ongoing partnership with the City of
Burlington and the Airport as we continue to move forward with noise mitigation efforts
and look forward to continuing conversations about how to address concerns and work
together."
“I am pleased with this installation, as it provides good knowledge and information about
noise for the local community, which allows for better conversation regarding noise
mitigation,” said Helen Riehle, South Burlington City Council Chair and Airport
Commissioner. “I am appreciative of the effort the Airport put into applying for the grant to
install this system and bringing it into operation.”
Background
A system of this kind was included in both the 1990 approved Noise Compatibility Program
(NCP); the 2008 updated NCP, and is more clearly defined in the newest submission of the
2020 Updated NCP. Through both public comments during the NCP open comment period,
as well as through emails, the community requested that the Airport provide noise and flight
tracking data for all operations at the airport. This program will allow residents throughout
the area to view noise events from single aircraft.
This system compliments the existing Noise Exposure Map (NEM) published in 2019.
However, should not be confused with the NEM Day-Night Average (DNL) noise levels, which
averages noise over a 24-hour day with weighted penalties for night operations, over the
course of a year, which is a required average noise measurement by the FAA.
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Please visit www.btvsound.com for further information regarding Burlington International
Airport’s Noise Compatibility Program and Sound Mitigation efforts.
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