Permanent Noise Monitoring Act Quarterly Operations Report

Transcription

1 Permanent Noise Monitoring Act 1st Quarter 2006 Prepared by: Noise Mitigation Programs Office Rhode Island Airport Corporation For further information, please contact: Helena S. Reid, ext. 297

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction...3 Permanent Noise Monitoring Act...3 Passenger Activity...5 Aircraft Operations...5 Total Operations...6 Part 36 Certification...8 Late Night Operations...9 By Time...10 By Airline...10 By Aircraft Category...11 Part 150 Noise Abatement Corridor Compliance...11 By Airline...15 By Runway...16 Noise Complaints...20 Appendix A: Part 150 Corridor Deviations...21 Page 2 of 23

3 Introduction This report is prepared for the Rhode Island General Assembly in conformance with the Permanent Noise Monitoring Act of 1998, as amended. It contains statistical information on aircraft operations, activity levels by aircraft types, and noise complaints for the First Quarter, T. F. Green Airport is a medium-hub commercial service airport located in Warwick, RI. It serves the Rhode Island, Southern Massachusetts and Eastern Connecticut communities. In the mid-1990s, Southwest airlines began service at T.F. Green which resulted in a significant increase in aircraft operations and the ability for travelers in the southern New England area to reach many destinations easily and affordably. The airport has two active runways, 5-23 and Runway 5-23 is 7,166 feet long and 150 feet wide. It is oriented in a north/south direction and serves as the primary runway for large turbojet operations. Runway is the crosswind runway oriented in a northwest/southeast direction. It is 6,081 feet long and 150 feet wide and is utilized as weather conditions dictate. T.F. Green was among the first airports in the country to participate in the Federal Aviation Administration s Noise and Land Use Compatibility Program, commonly referred to as Part 150. Under the direction of the State of Rhode Island and now the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, T. F. Green Airport has had an active noise mitigation program since the early 1980s. In 1998, RIAC undertook a complete update of the original Part 150 Study and recommended several new operations procedures designed to minimize noise impacts on surrounding communities. The center of these recommendations involved the implementation of noise abatement departure procedures for turbojet aircraft. In June 2000, the FAA approved these new procedures and the local air traffic control tower implemented the assigned departure headings in an effort to reduce the number of persons adversely affected by aircraft operations. Permanent Noise Monitoring Act In 1998, the Rhode Island Legislature enacted Title 1, Aeronautics, Chapter 1-5, Permanent Noise Monitoring Act Aircraft Operations Monitoring System (AOMS). This Act requires the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) to install an aircraft operations monitoring system. Once installed, RIAC is to collect and report on a quarterly basis detailed and summary information related to the operation of aircraft at Green Airport. This document is generated to meet those requirements. The AOMS is a stand-alone system that has five (5) radar sensors deployed throughout the State of Rhode Island (see Figure 1). These sensors receive specific aircraft information from all aircraft with transponders operating within 20 miles of T. F. Green Airport. This information is delivered real-time to the Noise Program Manager where it is correlated daily and displayed on a computer screen. The data is archived for use in generating reports. Page 3 of 23

4 Information collected includes; aircraft type, flight number, registration number, altitude, arrival/departure status and the origin or destination. The use of five sensors throughout the state allows for a greater accuracy in identifying the flight tracks. This system is independent from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control radar. The movement of aircraft to and from an airport is the responsibility of FAA Air Traffic Control. Figure 1: Aircraft Operations Monitoring System Radar Sensors Source: RIAC, 2006 Page 4 of 23

5 Passenger Activity Airports use two different criterions to measure activity for an airport, the number of operations and the number of passengers. This section discusses the passenger activity levels associated with aircraft operations at T. F Green Airport. During the first quarter, passenger levels decreased approximately 2.9% over the same quarter T.F. Green served approximately 1,211,288 passengers during this quarter. Passenger decrease can be attributed to a number of factors some of which are Independence Air ceasing operations on January 5, 2006; route cancellations; and some airlines utilizing regional jets which have fewer seating. Southwest Airlines did see a passenger increase of 16% over the same quarter Figure 2 shows the number of passengers that have utilized the airport via scheduled air carriers, commuter and charter flights since Figure 2: Total Passengers, by Quarter 1,600,000 # of Passengers 1,100, , ,000 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr Quarters Source: RIAC 2006, Passenger Activity Report Aircraft Operations Aircraft operations can be classified in a number of ways including by type of aircraft, arrivals/departures, origin/destination, airline fleet, Part 36 (relative noisiness) and time of day. To present the overall perspective of operations, Table 1, highlights the arrivals and departures of all aircraft by runway at T. F. Green Airport. Page 5 of 23

6 In general aircraft must take off into the wind, therefore, aircraft also arrive into the wind to remain consistent with the traffic flow and avoid aircraft departing and arriving in the same direction. As previously stated there are two runways at T. F. Green, 5-23 and Runways are given numbers based on the compass heading for each runway end. By designating each runway end, the Tower and pilots know which direction to land or depart. For example, Runway 5 has a compass heading of 050 degrees and is oriented to the north. Aircraft operating on this runway will depart to the north and arrive from the south. Conversely, Runway 23 has a heading of 230 degrees and is oriented to the south. Aircraft operating on Runway 23 will depart to the south and arrive from the north. Total Operations The Aircraft Operations Monitoring System (AOMS) collected 24,036 flight tracks during this reporting period. There were 11,881 departures and 12,155 arrivals for an average 267 operations per day. Table 1 depicts aircraft operations by runway and operation type. Table 1: Total Operations by Runway, 1st Quarter 2006 Runway Arrivals Departures Total # of Ops % # of Ops % # of Ops % 23 6,186 51% 6,509 55% 12,695 53% 5 2,931 24% 3,203 27% 6,134 25% % 216 2% 263 1% 34 2,991 24% 1,953 16% 4,944 21% Total 12, % 11, % 24, % Source: RIAC 2006 Operations Monitoring System Departures occurred predominantly to the south on Runway 23 with the majority of the arrivals from the north on Runway 23. The prevailing winter winds kept Runway 34 in use 21% of the time. Figure 3 depicts this runway use graphically over an aerial view of the airport. Page 6 of 23

7 Figure 3: Aerial View of Total Operations, by Runway End, 1st Quarter, 2006 Source: RIAC, Operations Monitoring System, 2006 Page 7 of 23

8 The rest of this section will highlight the scheduled air carrier and cargo operations. Since these operations are the primary focus of the noise abatement efforts and Part 150 Study as well as the predominant operator category at the airport. Part 36 Certification During the 1st Quarter of 2006 there were approximately 8,107 departures of commercial aircraft from T. F. Green Airport, which averages out to approximately 90 operations per day. This number includes air carrier, commuter and cargo operations. The overall percentage of pure Stage 3 aircraft operating at T. F. Green Airport is 98% or 7,912 operations during this quarter. Figure 4: Schedule Departures by Noise Classification, # of Departures Stage 3 Stage 3 Hushkitted Q Q2005 4Q2005 Quarters 1Q2006 Source: RIAC, Airline Activity Reports and Operations Monitoring System, The airlines (air carrier and commuter) accounted for 7,876 (97%) of the 8,107 commercial departures from T. F. Green Airport, (Table 2). The airlines are operating at 99% pure Stage 3 aircraft and 1% Stage 3 compliant (hushkitted Stage 2 aircraft). The cargo carriers operating at T. F. Green account for 180 of the 195 hushkitted Stage 2 aircraft operations. All airline operations are scheduled to occur between 6:00 a.m. and midnight. Table 2 also illustrates each scheduled air carrier s contribution to daily flights and percentage use of the quietest aircraft. Page 8 of 23

9 Table 2: Airline Departures, by Part 36 Certification, 1st Quarter 2006 Airline Stage 3 Hushkitted Aircraft Pure Stage 3 Aircraft Total Operations Avg. Daily Departures # of % # of % Departures Departures American 0 0% % Continental 0 0% % Delta 0 0% % Independence 0 0% % 15.5 Northwest 15 4% % Southwest 0 0% % Spirit 0 0% % US Air 0 0% % United 0 0% % Total 15 Source: RIAC Air Carrier Reports, % % Late Night Operations (Midnight 6:00 a.m.) RIAC has implemented a voluntary nighttime curfew for operations between midnight and 6:00 a.m. RIAC continual works with the airlines, no flights are scheduled during this time period. However, should a flight be delayed for weather or mechanical reasons, it will continue to operate so that passengers will not be unduly disrupted. Airline operations conducted the greatest number of late night operations during this quarter with 108 operations. Total commercial aircraft (air carrier and commuter) conducted 118 operations. There were 5 charter operations but no cargo operations during the curfew hours. The majority of all late night operations, 114 or 50.4%, occurred between midnight and 1:00 a.m. and are comprised mainly of arrivals. (Figure 5) Overall, late-night operations were down 28% over last quarter. Page 9 of 23

10 Figure 5: Late Night Operations for All Aircraft Types, by Time # of Operations :00-12:59 1:00-1:59 2:00-2:59 3:00-3:59 4:00-4:59 5:00-5:59 2Q2005 3Q2005 4Q2005 1Q2006 Source: RIAC Operations Logs & Operations Monitoring System, 2006 Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines operated the most late night operations. It should be noted that this accounts for a small percentage of the individual airlines total operations at T. F. Green. The majority of these operations were arrivals attributed to weather or air traffic delays at the originating airports. Figure 6: Late Night Operations, by Airline, 1st Quarter 2006 # of Operations American Continental Delta Independence Northwest Southwest Spirit United US Air 2Q2005 3Q2005 4Q2005 1Q2006 Source: RIAC Operations Monitoring System, 2006 Page 10 of 23

11 Airline operations comprise 48% of the total nighttime operations. These late night arrivals are predominantly arrivals of delayed flights occurring between midnight and 1:00 a.m. Historically, the first quarter experiences the most late night operations. This can be directly attributed to weather and air traffic system delays caused by the winter season. RIAC continues to work with the airlines to decrease the number of late night operations. Figure 7: Late Night Operations, by Aircraft Category, 1st Quarter 2006 Gen. Aviation 46% Charter 2% Commuter 4% Cargo 0% Airline 48% Airline Cargo Commuter Gen. Aviation Charter Source: RIAC Operations Logs, 2006 Part 150 Noise Abatement Corridor Compliance The Part 150 Noise Study Update recommended the implementation of noise abatement departure corridors to limit the number of persons adversely affected by aircraft noise near T. F. Green. After an FAA Environmental Impact Statement, RIAC implemented the use of noise abatement corridors beginning in June There are a total of eight corridors, comprised of at least one departure corridor per runway and one arrival corridor for Runway 34. For most runway ends; there are two flight tracks that jet aircraft may follow. The Air Traffic Control Tower issues a departure heading associated with one of the Part 150 corridors based on the aircraft s destination. A description of these flight corridors is presented below and a graphical depiction of the corridors is shown in Figures 8 and 9. Page 11 of 23

12 Runway 5: Northbound Departures (D5NA): Jet aircraft will turn left as soon as practicable after passing runway end to fly a 360-degreee heading until reaching 3 DME (Distance Measuring Equipment). Southbound Departures (D5SB): Jet aircraft will turn right to a 080-degree heading until reaching 3 DME, passing over Passeonkquis Cove, Gaspee Point Beach and Narrangansett Bay. Runway 23: Northbound Departures (D2SA): Jet aircraft will turn left as soon as practicable after passing runway end to a 160-degree heading until reaching 5 DME or intercepting the 180-degree radial (whichever occurs first). This measure is intended to route traffic over Greenwich Bay and along the north edge of Goddard Memorial State Park. Southbound Departures (D2NA): Jet aircraft will turn right as soon as practicable after passing runway end to a 280-degree heading until reaching 3 DME. This measure is intended to direct departures under 3,000 over compatible land use areas in Apponaug along I-95 and SR 115. Runway 16: Southbound Departures (D1SA): Jet aircraft will turn right to a 180-degree heading until reaching 3 DME or intercepting the PVD VORTAC 180-degree radial. This measure is intended to direct departures over compatible land use areas along Brush Creek Cove and Greenwich Bay. Runway 34: Northbound Departures (D3NA): Jet aircraft will turn left as soon as practicable after passing runway end to a 330-degree heading until reaching 4 DME. This measure is intended to direct departures along compatible land use areas located along SR37 and I-295. Southbound Departures (D3SA): Jet aircraft will turn right to a 360-degree heading until reaching 3 DME. This measure is intended to direct departures along compatible land use areas along I-95 and the Pawtuxet River corridors. Runway 34: Arrivals (A3SA): Jet aircraft will intercept the final approach course before crossing the shoreline at Rocky Point Beach on Warwick Neck (4 DME from the PVD VORTAC). This measure is intended to keep jet aircraft following the same course along the extended runway centerline from beyond the shoreline. Page 12 of 23

13 Rhode Island Airport Corporation Figure 8: Part 150 Noise Abatement Departure Corridors Source: FAA, EIS for T. F. Green Air Traffic Control Noise Abatement Procedures, 2000 Page 13 of 23

14 Figure 9: Part 150 Noise Abatement Arrivals Corridor Source: FAA, EIS for T. F. Green Air Traffic Control Noise Abatement Procedures, 2000 Page 14 of 23

15 An analysis of each air carrier and their compliance with these departures corridors was conducted utilizing the Aircraft Operations Monitoring System. Overall compliance by the air and cargo carriers is 98% with no air carrier achieving less than 96% compliance and cargo carriers achieving no less than 94% compliance in maintaining the aircraft s departure flight track within the corridors. Table 3: Noise Abatement Departure Corridor Total Compliance by Airline, 1st Quarter, 2006, All Runways Airline Departures 1 Deviations 2 Percentage Rwy 5 Rwy 23 Rwy 16 Rwy 34 Total Flight Tracks of Compliance Air Carriers American % Continental % Delta % Northwest % Southwest 627 1, , % Spirit % US Air , % United % Total 1,635 3, , % Cargo Carriers DHL % Federal % Express UPS % Total % Source: RIAC, Aircraft Operations Monitoring System, Total number of departures as recorded by the AOMS. 2 Detailed listings of each airline s deviations are provided in Appendix 1. Page 15 of 23

16 A detailed analysis of compliance by runway end shows that the airlines and cargo operators achieve a high level of compliance with the noise abatement procedures. Table 4: Noise Abatement Departure Corridor Compliance for Runway 5, by Airline, 1st Quarter Airline Northbound Departures 4 Southbound Departures Total # of % of Total # of % of Departures Deviations Compliance Departures Deviations Compliance Air Carriers American % % 100% Continental % 0 0 N/A 98% Delta % 0 0 N/A 99% Northwest % 0 0 N/A 100% Southwest % % 99% Spirit % % 100% US Air % % 100% United % 0 0 N/A 100% Total Air Carriers 1, % % 99% Cargo Carriers DHL % 0 0 N/A 100% Federal Express % 0 0 N/A 100% UPS % 0 0 N/A 100% Total Cargo Carriers % 0 0 N/A 100% Total 1, % % 99% Total Runway Compliance Source: RIAC, Aircraft Operations Monitoring System, Specific information regarding the deviations from the approved noise abatement departures corridors can be found in Appendix 1. 4 The number of departures reported in Tables 4 through 7 were calculated utilizing the AOMS. Because this system was not fully operational during the reporting period, the number presented will differ from the number of departures reported by the airlines and presented in Table 2. Page 16 of 23

17 Table 5: Noise Abatement Departure Corridor Compliance for Runway 23, by Airline, 1st Quarter Airline Northbound Departures Southbound Departures Total Total # of % of Total # of % of Runway Departures Deviations Compliance Departures Deviations Compliance Compliance Air Carriers American % 0 0 N/A 100% Continental % 0 0 N/A 99% Delta % 0 0 N/A 99% Northwest % 0 0 N/A 100% Southwest % % 99% Spirit % % 100% US Air % % 99% United % % 100% Total Air Carriers 2, % % 99% Cargo Carriers DHL % 0 0 N/A 100% Federal Express % 0 0 N/A 100% UPS % 0 0 N/A 100% Total Cargo Carriers % 0 0 N/A 100% Total 2, % % 99% Source: RIAC, Aircraft Operations Monitoring System, Specific Information regarding the deviations from the approved noise abatement departures corridors can be found in Appendix 1. Page 17 of 23

18 Table 6: Noise Abatement Departure Corridor Compliance for Runway 34, by Airline, 1st Quarter Airline Northbound Departures Southbound Departures Total Total # of % of Total # of % of Runway Departures Deviations Compliance Departures Deviations Compliance Compliance Air Carriers American 0 0 N/A % 100% Continental % % 99% Delta 0 0 N/A % 100% Northwest 0 0 N/A % 100% Southwest % % 100% Spirit % % 100% US Air % % 97% United 0 0 N/A % 100% Total Air Carriers % % 99% Cargo Carriers DHL % 0 0 N/A 100% Federal Express % % 100% UPS % % 100% Total Cargo Carriers % % 100% Total Source: RIAC, Aircraft Operations Monitoring System, % % 100% 6 Specific Information regarding the deviations from the approved noise abatement departures corridors can be found in Appendix 1. Page 18 of 23

19 Table 7: Noise Abatement Departure Corridor Compliance for Runway 16, by Airline, 1st Quarter Airline Departures Total # of % of Departures Deviations Compliance Air Carriers American % Continental % Delta % Northwest % Southwest % Spirit % US Air % United % Total Air Carriers % Cargo Carriers DHL 0 0 N/A Federal Express 0 0 N/A UPS 0 0 N/A Total Cargo Carriers 0 0 N/A Total % Source: RIAC, Aircraft Operations Monitoring System, 2006 There is one arrival corridor designed for Runway 34. There were no deviations by any of the airlines in the utilization of this corridor. 7 Specific Information regarding the deviations from the approved noise abatement departures corridors can be found in Appendix 1. Page 19 of 23

20 Noise Complaints RIAC has instituted several methods for citizens concerned about aircraft noise to voice their opinions. RIAC is committed to minimizing the effects of aircraft generated noise on the Warwick and Cranston Communities through the use of operational procedures and noise mitigation programs. Citizens can call the noise hotline and leave a message, submit a complaint via the web page or call the noise office directly. Figure 10: Total Noise Complaints by Quarter, 2006 Noise Complaints # of Calls Q2005 3Q2005 4Q2005 1Q2006 Quarters Source: RIAC Operations Monitoring System, 2006 As seen in Figure 10, during the, RIAC received 147 complaints from 29 individuals. In February, one household provided the airport with 110 of the complaints. For the quarter, RIAC received an average of less than 2 complaints per day. Page 20 of 23

21 APPENDIX A: Air Carriers American Total Deviations 0 No Deviations Continental Total Deviations 7 Runway 5: Date Time Flight 2/3 7:09 a.m /10 2:20 p.m /27 6:38 a.m Runway 23: 2/13 5:30 p.m /22 9:49 a.m Runway 34: 2/27 9:53 a.m /18 1:43 p.m Delta Total Deviations 3 Runway 5: Date Time Flight 1/25 1:15 a.m Runway 23: 2/19 5:37 p.m /13 12:34 p.m Northwest Total Deviations 0 No Deviations Southwest Total Deviations 14 Runway 5: Date Time Flight 1/13 8:03 p.m /15 7:50 a.m /12 12:18 a.m /3 7:47 a.m Runway 23: 1/13 8:15 a.m /18 9:30 a.m /18 1:39 p.m. 377 Page 21 of 23

22 Southwest Total Deviations 14 1/29 4:40 p.m /3 11:56 a.m /9 7:02 a.m /17 7:14 a.m /17 4:17 p.m /19 8:34 a.m /22 7:36 a.m Spirit Total Deviations 0 No Deviations US Air Total Deviations 15 Runway 23: Date Time Flight 1/13 3:57 p.m /18 2:22 p.m /20 2:37 p.m /27 4:45 p.m /3 1:29 p.m /17 11:10 a.m /19 3:27 p.m /9 7:59 a.m. 329 Runway 34: 1/10 1:17 p.m /16 1:21 p.m /25 1:16 p.m /26 1:18 p.m /27 1:20 p.m /1 1:18 p.m /7 1:27 p.m United Total Deviations 0 No Deviations Page 22 of 23

23 Cargo Carriers DHL Total Deviations 0 No Deviations Federal Express Total Deviations 0 No Deviations UPS Total Deviations 0 No Deviations Page 23 of 23