HR 1023

Abstract

Urges the Chicago Department of Aviation to develop a more comprehensive, aggressive Fly Quiet program, including the development of a Continuous Descent Approach, a review of Noise Abatement Department Procedures, the act of maintaining at least 2 operating runways and leaving a third runway open during Fly Quiet hours, including at least one diagonal runway, and the operating use of a Runway Rotation Plan, to disperse airport noise effects during Fly Quiet hours. Urges the Chicago Department of Aviation to revise and strengthen the Fly Quiet Program Manual and operating procedures to create a pathway toward partial compliance with Fly Quiet during non-optimal weather conditions, and better familiarity between air traffic controllers and Fly Quiet principles. Recommends that the Fly Quiet Program Manual should be studied and revised at regular, periodic intervals; these reviews should include, but not be limited to, the assessment of departure paths and headings from O'Hare's newest runways and determine the best runway configurations, with the goal of directing flights over less-populated areas and reducing population impacts. Urges that the stakeholders should work together to study and implement Fly Quiet Program Manual voluntary operating procedures outside of normal Fly Quiet hours. Urges the Chicago Department of Aviation to make every effort to work with its private partners to discourage and phase down the use of older and noisier aircraft, including but not limited to the MD-80 and DC-10 aircraft, on a 24/7 basis but especially during Fly Quiet hours. Urges the Chicago Department of Aviation to enhance the report card program to measure and publicly report on the noise mitigation performance metrics posted by airlines and air cargo operators throughout the 24/7 day, but especially with respect to operations during Fly Quiet hours.