Some of the best neighborhoods are located near airports. Dealing with the noise pollution they create is a common lament of both residents and HOAs alike. Even if you’re not close enough to hear landings and takeoffs, proximity to flight paths alone can range the gamut from constant annoyance to potentially harmful effects on one’s overall health. You may think you don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to formally complaining to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but there are a surprising number of success stories when it comes to HOAs influencing airplanes to change their flight paths.
Let’s be clear. The underlying issue is the health and safety of your residents.
A number of studies have linked excessive noise to a surprisingly diverse range of health issues. In our efforts to understand the effects of excessive noise on our bodies, links to everything from heart disease to rising blood pressure and type 2 diabetes have been identified. At the end of the day, increasing the value of a neighborhood comes down to increasing the quality of life for the inhabitants of that neighborhood. Which is why you have every right to approach the FAA as an HOA seeking to improve the lives of its constituents.
Tips For Approaching The FAA
You must remember at the outset that the FAA, bureaucratic though they may be, will listen to well-developed arguments. They aren’t out to hurt anyone – quite the opposite. So with whatever approach you take, make sure to include them as vital partners in your proposal, not enemies to be overcome. What follows are some successive steps that might help you accomplish this:
- Understand the difference between noise abatement and noise pollution. Noise pollution is generally considered something that is a) undesired and b) in some way interfering with your ability to go about your day-to-day business. Noise abatement, by contrast, is the reduction of noise pollution. Noise pollution can be both diagnosed and countered by several different organizations. While the FAA is generally involved, it may also concern the EPA, local airport, airlines, or city officials.
- See if you can align with other HOAs in the area. If the neighborhoods you look after are experiencing unwanted noise pollution, chances are quite good that other neighborhoods, supported by other HOAs, are in the same boat as yourself. There is strength in numbers, so reach out and see how many folks in your area share your sentiment before you get too far down any one pipeline. Where a single voice can be strong if one has a solid game plan, a unified voice of many leaves a far greater impression.
- See if you can get local city officials involved. You don’t have to do this alone. There are likely many officials that oversee your particular district who will support your position.
- Approach the local airport directly. You may find that you don’t need to formally escalate anything to the FAA if there is a mechanism in place at the airport administration level to deal with noise pollution in surrounding neighborhoods.
- Send your complaint to the FAA. Don’t overthink this. It can be as simple as sending an email. While phone calls and written letters work too, emails are more likely to be distributed to the right people the fastest. You can contact the FAA’s Aviation Noise Ombudsman by following the directions at this link: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/noise_emissions/airport_aircraft_noise_issues/noise/.
- Consider soundproof measures you can take into your own hands. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a long time for the wheels of progress to turn, and other times the end result is less than hoped for. In the meantime, it’s important for you to consider soundproofing techniques you can implement for your neighborhoods at the HOA level.
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
Remember – everyone has the right to a quiet place to live. Consider partnering with a property management company that values both your association AND your residents. If you’d like to discuss some of the hurdles you’re currently jumping over, schedule an appointment to meet with one of our management professionals today!
