b'OPERATIONSAPF69air traffic control personnel from FAA centers in Fort Myers andbeen a decade since the airport updated its Miami worked together to formulate a plan to reduce noise whilenoise contours. Jet activity increased at APF boosting efficiency and safety during approaches to APF. in the 2010s following the dip caused by the The primary technical focus of the Part 150 study was theGreat Recession, and the community near the Noise Compatibility Program, which included extensive noiseairfield has grown over the years. Conditions modeling work. Specialists combined varied inputs to determinehad changed, Arnold summarizes. what would help decrease local aircraft noise. More specifically,Rozansky notes that the recent effort to they evaluated potential flight procedures to reduce aircraft noisechange flight procedures is not related toMIKE ARNOLDin nearby areas to within day-night average sound level (DNL) 60years of discussions about relocating the airport. Guided by decibels noise contoursthe locally-adopted threshold for noiseresults of a recent financial feasibility analysis, the Airport Board compatibility. In contrast, FAAs threshold for noise compatibility isvoted this June to discontinue studying a possible relocation.DNL 65, which is when noise-reduction measures are considered. Environmental Science Associates also generated more than 300Extra Stepssets of noise contours to explore opportunities to reduce noiseTypically, modified flight procedures begin with an approved Part impacts beyond DNL 60. 150 noise study and involve the FAA developing and implementing One of the key recommendations from Environmental Sciencethe changes. However, Rozansky points out that the federal agency Associates was a slightly steeper glideslope (3.5% vs. the existinghas a finite amount of resources available to do so, and airports 3%) for approachesa change that air passengers probably willtypically wait three or more years after submitting a request to the not notice, notes Rozansky. If approved, the procedural tweak willFAA Instrument Flight Procedures Information Gateway portal. require some arriving aircraft to start their final descent into APFHe and other Airport Authority officials wanted to get the from about 1,000 feet higher than before. Approaches from thejob done faster at APF. So staff investigated ways to expedite southwest, which take aircraft directly over downtown Naples, willthe process, and Rozansky presented options for private be about 100 feet higher. Less time at lower altitudes will translateflight procedure design firms to the Airport Boards Consultant into less intense aircraft noise in the community.Selection Committee, which recommended the strategy to the full board. Hughes Aerospace Corp. was then selected in December Ongoing Efforts 2023 through a competitive bid process. The initiative to revise approach procedures at APF is part of aRozansky points out that Hughes has a CFR 14 FAA Part larger strategy to proactively manage noise and interact with the97 Certificate, which enables it to perform the same functions surrounding community on a continuous basis. that the FAA does in terms of flight procedure design, flight The Part 150 study included a notable amount of communityinspection activities and maintenance. Working with other project involvement. The Airport Authority formed a temporarystakeholders, the company focused on airspace, terrain, obstacles Technical Advisory Committee comprised of local residents fromand environmental factors during its work at APF in 2024.around the airport as well as local government, business andAnother important part of the flight procedure design process aviation representatives. It supplemented the permanent Noisewas a noise screening analysis required by the National Compatibility Committee, which regularly liaises with the AirportEnvironmental Policy Act (NEPA). That was conducted by Authority about managing noise Environmental Science Associates and included a public workshop The nine local volunteers who serve on the Noise Compatibilityto garner comments from local residents. The firm also analyzed the Committee are considered important assets because they provideproposed new flight procedures to check for unexpected effects.feedback about whether efforts to hold down noise levels are working.Next came the flight inspection activities, Other key elements of APFs Noise Abatement Program include: which are required by FAA to ensure thata noise hotline and free smart phone app to help residentsprocedures meet required safety and submit comments about aircraft noise;performance standards. Chris Baur, chiefa ban on engine maintenance run-ups from 10:00 p.m. toexecutive officer of Hughes Aerospace and 7:00 a.m.; an FAA-certificated Flight Inspection Pilot, a voluntary, but highly encouraged, flight curfew from 10:00worked with another Hughes test pilot to p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; and perform a series of test flights at all endsCHRIS BAURa monthly Noise Report published on the Airport Authorityof APFs runways, successfully evaluating website that breaks down the sources of complaints bythe performance of the proposed new procedures. Flying the neighborhood.companys Socata TBM 850 single-engine turboprop, Baur approached, landed and departed from primary Runway 5-23 and Officials are continually looking to build on and improve theits cross-wind runway, 14-32. The test flights started at 6 a.m. to airports overall noise performance. Until recently, it had been 20minimize impact on other traffic and ended around 10 a.m. years since a complete Part 150 study had been done at APF, notes Mike Arnold, senior vice president and National AviationHughes has performed similar flight inspections at public Market director for Environmental Science Associates. It had alsoand private airports worldwide; but noise isnt always the issue. AirportImprovement.comSeptember 2025'