The FAA's Neighborhood Environmental Survey is a multi-year research effort to review and improve FAA’s understanding of community response to noise.

ONCC has been awaiting these results, first requesting that the FAA re-evaluate its established noise metric (65DNL) in 2009. ONCC has requested updates and status reports on several occasions throughout the six-year survey process.

The FAA is holding a public comment period on the study through March 15, 2021. ONCC will provide comment, and member communities as well as the public are invited to do so as well.

At its January 19th meeting, the Fly Quiet committee voted to advance for further consideration FQ21 Alternative B. The committee voted NOT to advance Alternatives C, D, E, and F. The committee will continue the process at its next meeting on Thursday, January 28, voting on Alternatives G and H.

It is the goal to arrive at one preferred and one secondary alternative to present to the FAA. Further refinements to the selected alternatives are expected.

ONCC members received an update from the Chicago Department of Aviation on COVID-19 testing sites at O'Hare and Midway. Currently, traveling passengers and airport employees are eligible for testing. PCR and Rapid Antigen tests are available. The presentation also reviewed COVID-19 safety measures being implemented at O'Hare and Midway.

The Chicago City Council is expected to approve the ONCC intergovernmental agreement in the coming weeks. Watch for your community/district's copies of the agreement and be sure to get it on the agenda for your next board/council meting. Signed agreements are due back to the City by February 28, 2021.

The Interim Fly Quiet plan (IFQ) features an eight-week nighttime runway rotation plan. The program was in place from November 3, 2019 through May 17, 2020. The program paused for rehab work of Runway 4R/22L over the summer and resumed in September 2020. The program will end the week of January 24, 2021, necessitated by the construction work on Runway 9R/27L extension.

ONCC Leadership will be participating in the 2021 UC Davis Virtual Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium Feb. 23-26. The event will focus on defining the challenges that face the noise and emissions industry over the next few years and discussing real-world solutions. Presenters will share ground-breaking efforts being undertaken by elected officials, airports, consultants, communities, and the FAA to mitigate noise and environmental impacts of aviation.

The 2021 Meeting Calendar is now available on the ONCC web site. Be sure to get those dates entered into your schedule. Check the web site regularly for any updates including new or rescheduled meetings or meeting cancellations.