Northern California MetroPlex | NextGen Aviation Noise Analysis

As a consultant, the team led by Freytag & Associates, performed an airplane noise assessment for the city of Palo Alto. Our team reviewed and audited previous Bay Area aircraft noise reports, analyzed the change in flight paths/tracks that have occurred as a result of NextGen implementation, determined the growth in noise exposure over the past 5 years and identified flight tracks and air traffic procedures to mitigate noise impact.

Ramifications of the Nor Cal Metroplex Project (OAPM) moved key arrival traffic over Palo Alto and noise sensitive residential areas. The project team tabulated various flight cell data and conducted noise modeling using National Offload Program (NOP) data to assess the number of flights, airport time of operation, and flight level for each arrival. Each arrival track route was reviewed for its noise impacts on Palo Alto and alternative routes were identified. The data was input into the FAA’s/AEDT modeling software to calculate DNL noise contours.

The team, working with the City, proposed various flight path changes/ modifications to arrival paths over the South Bay (including Palo Alto). At the conclusion of the project, our team led a community meeting summarizing the results and recommendations from the study. These changes were discussed with the FAA’s Select Committee, and the FAA is currently working on implementating these changes.