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MWAA arrogantly dismisses CWG Fly Quiet efforts
MWAA arrogantly dismisses CWG Fly Quiet efforts
At its April 2024 meeting, MWAA approves CWG DCA as Recommendation #27 to establish a Fly Quiet program
At the April CWG 2025 meeting, MWAA reported that it had not accomplished any tangible progress on developing a Fly Quiet program. No project plan, no scheduled, no budget. Clowns to the left of me, clowns to the right of me!
At the July 2025 meeting, members of the CWG pushed back at MWAA for its continued lack of progress July 2025 meeting summary
At the October Meeting, MWAA disributed material for its "Fly Quiet" plan 2 days prior to the meeting for review and discussion MWAA proposed plan & Slides. The plan is not forward looking and looks like nothing more than a compilation of what MWAA already does. The CWG was insulted that MWAA thought repackaging what MWAA already does would be acceptable. MWAA does not understand what is needed to assess air carrier performance and trends. MWAA completely disregrarded CWG recommendations for metrics that are provided in fly quiet programs at other airports.
Moreover, MWAA again refuses to hire a subject matter expert (SME) to develop and operate a meaningful program as well as adding staff to its "one-man" overworked noise staff for approximately $250,000. The projected 2025 Reagan National budget is $322,000,000 in revenue with a projected $127,000,000 in excess revenue. Last year, $69,741,000 in excess revenue was returned to the airlines, The CWG beleives that the airlines would not object if $69,491,000 was returned next year.
What is the CWG doing about it?
Members are requesting their government representatives to pressure MWAA to develop a more meaningful plan that would include necessary development and ongoing operational costs (including an SME).
The CWG believes that it will take the two Virginia Senators (Kaine and Warner) and Arlington County teaming up to get this across the line. Maryland and D.C. don't have the clout Virginia does. DC's non-voting representative is "missing in action" anyway so its CWG members will need to lobby council members. If Kaine and/or Warner would say "we're not sponsoring or approving any federal grants until you do this" or if Arlington said, "we're not approving any construction projects until you do this," MWAA would fund it immediately. I can't hold the hands of the Virginia Working Group reps. It's up to them to step up.
The CWG's DMV fly quiet program CWG Fly Quiet Program Overview
The CWG responds to MWAA questions about Fly Quiet programs at other airports Response Draft
Local jurisidictions recommend MWAA fund the fly quiet program. Letters of Support Read at October 2024 CWG Meeting. Additional letter from Fairfax
DCA daily flights by time of day
DCA daily flights by time of day
At its October 2025, MWAA adopts the CWG noise mitigation recommendations for
communities south of DCA. Presentation deck
At its April 2025 meeting, MWAA adopts CWG Recommendation #28 on helicopter noise
Wisdom from MWAA?
Weight has no impact on the amount of noise an aircraft generates. However, heavy aircraft require more power to take-off and climb than a lighter aircraft. This results in more noise being heard on the ground for two reasons, 1) the higher power setting and 2) a slower rate of climb and/or lower altitude. [Editors note: seems contradictory]
A light aircraft that uses a heavy aircraft power setting produces the same amount of noise but would be at a higher altitude at all points along the departure path resulting in less noise on the ground due to a steeper climb angle/higher altitude.
Heavy aircraft require more thrust to maintain the same descent angle as a lighter aircraft, so the higher power setting does produce more noise than a lower power setting on arrival. And, because the altitude is the same on approach no matter the weight, more noise is heard on the ground.
FAA AC Part36 3-H does document increases in noise levels at higher weight because the noise is measured at defined points.
Additional beyond perimeter flights must be heavier (more fuel) than inside perimeter flights (which we also oppose) and one of MWAA's opposition points to these efforts is the corresponding increase in aircraft noise experienced by area residents. [Editor note: Congress recently approved additional 10 flights beyond the perimeter which will use heavier Boeing 737 Max aircraft]
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