F-35 takeoff peaks at 124 decibels near Pizza Putt
Readings with a calibrated recording sound pressure level meter show danger.
A 124 decibel peak noise reading was recorded on a public street during an F-35 takeoff on May 7 near Pizza Putt (the northern end of the runway). This measurement was C-weighted, which means it included virtually all of the F-35’s low frequency noise. The airport’s noise map includes this location within the 75 decibel day-night average contour.
A 118 decibel peak noise reading was taken at the end of Avenue A in Williston during an F-35 takeoff on May 22 (near the southern end of the runway). This reading was recorded using A-weighting--which screens out virtually all the lower frequencies. But A-weighting is the standard used by airports and the FAA.
The airport’s noise map includes this Williston location within the 70 decibel DNL contour. The various airport-provided noise contours were based on no actual measurements at all, just unverified computer models.
The Air Force Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) says that "repeated exposure to military low altitude flight noise with Lmax [the peak noise level] greater than 114 decibels" can cause noise induced hearing loss (volume II p. C-25). Thus, the above calibrated readings show danger.
With the Vermont Air Guard planning at least 136 F-35 takeoffs each month in its city location, F-35 practice flights are repeatedly exposing a large population of children and adults to military low altitude flight noise.
Good data is essential for good decisions. Needed now is the data that can be routinely provided by an FAA grant for a permanent noise monitoring and tracking system. Such a system will measure actual noise levels throughout neighborhoods in the flight path and on airport grounds, facilitate actions to protect children and adults living or working in, or commuting through the F-35 flight path, and correct or verify the airport’s computer model.
Such noise monitoring and tracking systems are in place at many airports, including Boston Logan airport, New York City’s JFK, La Guardia, and Newark airports, Montreal’s airports, and Westchester County airport, all of which host much quieter aircraft than the F-35. Those systems position noise sensors throughout neighborhoods in the flight path with a real time display of flights and noise levels on a website.
The World Health Organization states that “children are more susceptible to the impact of noise” than adults. With affected neighborhoods packed with children, now is not too soon for actual noise data in all affected neighborhoods to ensure and verify safety.
But the F-35 noise level is not being measured in F-35 affected neighborhoods, at schools and day care centers, or on airport grounds (where passengers and airport workers may be outdoors and exposed to even higher peak noise levels than those measured on public streets outside airport grounds).
The current BTV airport Noise Compatibility Program report adopted by the airport and approved by the FAA in 2008 recommends that the BTV airport director apply for an FAA grant for a permanent noise monitoring and tracking system.
But BTV Airport Directors have not applied for the FAA grant at any time during the past 12 years since that report was adopted--though they had high F-16 afterburner noise levels and full knowledge of the arrival of the F-35 jets.
How you can help
Ask your city councilors to pass resolutions at their next meeting instructing the Airport Director to submit a grant application to the FAA for a noise monitoring and tracking system.
Burlington City Councilors & Mayor citycouncil@burlingtonvt.gov, miro@burlingtonvt.gov
South Burlington City Councilors: helenriehle@gmail.com, memery@sburl.com, tbarritt@sburl.com, tchittenden@sburl.com, dkaufman@sburl.com
Winooski City Councilors & Mayor: klott@winooskivt.org, hcolston@winooskivt.org, jduncan@winooskivt.gov, alafayette@winooskivt.gov, mmyers@winooskivt.gov
Airport Director Gene Richards: grichards@btv.aero