Jul. 28—People living or traveling close to the Laredo International Airport will certainly hear the planes in the area as they land or take off from the airport.
Concerning the issue of noise and how this has changed due to its continued growth, the airport hosted a meeting on Tuesday evening open to the public so locals could discuss the issue, how it has changed over time and how noise maps help the airport understand the full spectrum of the issue.
The meeting is a bi-decade event required by the leading aviation authority in the country.
"Noise Exposure Maps are required by the Federal Aviation Administration for any airport that has a Noise Compatibility Program," Laredo International Airport Director Jeffrey Miller said. "The maps are required to be updated every five years and show how noise has changed over the past five years and where do we see it going in the next five. If noise exposure has grown — for example, more aircraft, different aircraft mix — then the noise contours grow, which is what we are predicting in our new NEM."
Miller states that noise is subjective and that it might affect some people over others. However, he does state that various programs exist to help out those who may be affected by noise due to living near an airport.
"Noise is very subjective to the listener, but the public outreach allows people in the community to engage with the airport and express their thoughts," Miller said. "There are certain mitigations available if housing sits in the 65 decibel level ... so we want to educate the community about these programs should they qualify."
Some people that looked forward to attending the meeting stated that they wanted to find out more about these programs and what they could do to further remedy the situation or pay less cost for their property.
"I live in the apartments right on Bartlett, and everyday you have to pause at least a little bit because the sound of the plane flying above blocks you completely," Laredoan Miguel Suarez said. "I also am looking to buying a home near the apartments, as I like the area. But I am wondering if there is anything that could be done to lower the noise or help us pay lower with discounts concerning the noise. I am glad that airports do this every once and a while, we didn't know about it."
According to Suarez, he believes that people who live in these areas or want to purchase property near it should attend.
Miller states that the two meetings each decade are standard for airports such as the one in Laredo, as established by the FAR Part 150 Program.
"The FAR Part 150 Program was established under the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 and allows airport operators to voluntarily submit noise exposure maps and NCPs to the FAA for review and approval," Miller said. "An NCP sets forth the measures that an airport operator 'has taken' or 'has proposed' for the reduction of existing incompatible land uses and the prevention of additional incompatible land uses within the area covered by NEMs. Typically, recommended noise abatement measures fall into three categories."
Miller hopes that interested individuals like Suarez and others do attend these events as they unite the community with the immense work that airport staff and personnel are doing to make sure that the airport is maintained and locals around the airport whether they are flying or simply live close by.
"It allows an opportunity for the community to engage with the airport, and if there is open dialog, we can all work for a better balance of life with commerce created from aircraft coming and going," Miller said.
According to Miller, the airport has not just grown in the past year — more flights are now being taken to Mexico and elsewhere along with increased and future programs for extending flights — but passenger numbers have even surpassed pre-pandemic figures.
"The airport is seeing a return to higher than 2019 numbers when it comes to passengers flying," Miller said. "Flights are averaging 90% full."
One area in which the airport has not seen that level of return yet is cargo flights, which Miller states has to do with the auto market.
"We are still seeing cargo traffic lower than 2019 but higher than 2020," Miller said. "We attribute this due to the microchip shortage in auto manufacturing, and I believe we will see a high number of cargo aircraft when the microchips are available to manufactures."
During the event, all attendees were asked to wear face coverings and to follow social distancing safety measures in efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as it has increased in recent weeks locally and in many areas around the country.
The event was held at the City of Laredo Public Works Department Conference Room located at 5512 Thomas Ave.
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