Ask the Captain: Airport noise annoys neighbors

Question: I live in New York City, Queens to be exact, and wanted to understand the routing of takeoffs and landings. We have over 50-60 planes per hour over my house, and they're loud. What are the rules for takeoffs over homes?

— Submitted by reader Bill Leahy, Bayside, N.Y.

Answer: The flight paths into and out of airports try to take into account minimizing the noise footprint. New York has a large number of flights, so the noise footprint will be greater. There good news, however, is that each generation of jet gets quieter, so over time the noise over your house is decreasing. If you have comments regarding the flight paths and noise, you can contact the FAA.

Q: I've noticed that Boston Logan is now using a right downwind approach to Runway 22L over a noise-sensitive area instead of Runway 27 over the water. What do you think influenced stakeholders to make this switch?

— Craig, Boston

A: The decision of the traffic flow for a complex airport such as Boston is usually determined by safety and efficiency. In today's modern airplanes, noise issues are much reduced. All of the jets meet Stage III noise requirements, which are much quieter than earlier generations.

To my knowledge, Boston lands on both Runway 22L and 27. A recent study I was involved in showed more frequent landing on 27 than any other runway at the airport.

Q: How can aircraft noise be reduced on takeoff over residential areas?

— John Katz, London

A: Airplane manufacturers constantly work on reducing noise. Today's jets are much quieter than earlier models. Engine technology continues to improve the noise footprint, and aerodynamic improvements lower the overall noise profile. Using better design and technologically advanced materials that contribute to noise reduction, the next generation jets will achieve lower noise levels throughout flight, including over residential areas.

Q: Sometimes, the engine noise disappears completely during flight. Do planes sometimes coast with engines shut or whittled down?

— Vrijendra, Las Vegas

A: A jet often descends at idle power. Though it sounds like the engines are not running, they are, and it is the most efficient descent profile.

John Cox is a retired airline captain with US Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.