Florida’s Naples Municipal Airport (KAPF), one of the most active business aviation hubs in the U.S., continues preparation on its Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) update after the public comment period ended last week. According to the airport, it received nearly 1,000 comments during the period, which also encompassed two open houses earlier this month.
Like many urban airports, KAPF has long faced complaints from neighbors over noise levels from its aircraft operations despite a voluntary nighttime curfew instituted in 2012. The airport’s “Fly Safe, Fly Quiet” campaign, encourages pilots and aircraft operators to help minimize noise by observing "quiet hours" between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The program has achieved 98 percent compliance, including a 34 percent decrease in violations to date versus a year ago.
This is the fourth Part 150 study prepared by the airport since 1987. The most recent FAA-approved study was done in 1997 and the last noise exposure map update was issued in 2010. Since then, the airport has noted that the mix of aircraft operating there has changed, with fewer flight training operations taking place.
Even though activity is still below the pre-recession levels from 1999 through 2008, the airport authority acknowledged that “jet activity now makes up an increasingly large proportion of the aircraft fleet.” At the airport board meeting on April 20, the board will decide what recommendations will remain in the document before submission to the FAA.
The airport authority also appointed three members to its Noise Compatibility Committee (NCC) representing the northwest quadrant, city-at-large, and county-at-large. Chris Auron, a U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard veteran, pilot, and aircraft mechanic will represent the area to the northwest of the airport and serve as NCC chair this year. Cliff Holland, a retired v-p of worldwide government affairs and policy organization for Johnson & Johnson, will serve a third term as city-at-large representative. And Andy Reed, who has served in executive roles with various philanthropic and charitable organizations, was named to the county-at-large position.
The NCC is comprised of nine local volunteers who help monitor the impacts of aircraft noise and issue recommendations on noise mitigation measures to the airport board of commissioners.