WATERBURY-OXFORD AIRPORT AIRPORT MASTER PLAN UPDATE & FAR PART 150 NOISE STUDY Advisory Committee (AC) Meeting #3 April 13, 7:00 p.m. Hilton Southbury Meeting Report Advisory Committee Members Present: NAME AFFILIATION David Blackburn Keystone Aviation Mark Cooper Town of Southbury Brian Emerick ConnDEP Michael Flood Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley David Head ConnDOT - Bureau of Policy & Planning Daniel D. Morley Connecticut Office of Policy & Management Michael O'Donnell ConnDOT - Airport Manager August Palmer Town of Oxford Raymond Pietrorazio Town of Middlebury Peter Sanderson IMS Health Inc. David Schweighofer Executive Flight Services John Silva FAA Note: Each AC member was provided with copies of the agenda and slide presentation. Advisory Committee Members Not Present: NAME AFFILIATION Robert Bruno ConnDOT - Bureau of Aviation Todd Johnson Waterbury-Oxford Airport - ATC Manager Gail Lattrell FAA Other Attendees Signed-In: NAME AFFILIATION Diane Bray ConnDOT - Bureau of Policy & Planning Stephen Delpapa ConnDOT - Bureau of Policy & Planning Ned Hurle ConnDOT - Bureau of Policy & Planning Carmine Trotta ConnDOT - Bureau of Policy & Planning Paul McDonnell Clough Harbour & Associates Laurel Stegina Fitzgerald Halliday, Inc. Ron Price QED Airport & Aviation Consultants Tony Spinelli CT Post Jeff Bricker NVCC Chris Cain NVCC Jaci Hughes NVCC Richard Bosco James Branson Marc Conway Lucien Francillette Thomas Gietzold Carla Majuntke Frank Maguire Greg Weed Sal Vulcano Meeting Purpose: * Provide the AC with a progress report on the Airport Master Plan Update (AMPU) & FAR Part 150 Noise Study; * Review the facility requirements; * Present the development alternatives; and * Present the baseline noise analysis. Meeting Summary: 1. Laurel Stegina, Fitzgerald & Halliday, served as the meeting moderator. 2. A presentation was given on the progress of the AMPU and Noise Study. Paul McDonnell presented the tasks status, schedule, project activities, facility requirements, development alternatives, affected environment, and baseline noise analysis. Key items to note include: * The current and forecast airfield capacity is 98 hourly operations. In 2003, peak hour operations at OXC were at 61 percent of hourly capacity. By 2023, peak hour operations are forecast to be at 77 percent of hourly capacity. Some projects to enhance long term capacity are considered in the Study. * Facility requirements were determined and presented for the runway, taxiways, instrument approaches, lighting, obstruction removal, landside facilities, support facilities, and the airport service road. * Development alternatives were created to accommodate each identified facility requirement. Examples of various development alternatives were presented, and their potential benefit to OXC was discussed. * The “affected environment” of OXC was presented as part of the Noise Study, with an emphasis on the land use and zoning of the surrounding communities. The noise study is conducted for a 5 year period using activity forecasts for 2008. * Background information on noise analysis and measurement techniques was discussed. The appropriate measurement technique for aircraft noise is the Day-Night Average Noise Level (DNL), defined as the total accumulation of aircraft noise spread uniformly throughout the day (with 10 decibels added to night operations). * The FAA Integrated Noise Model (INM) was presented. Both the existing and future noise contours for OXC were generated from the INM. Sixty- four homes were within the 2003 DNL 65 dB noise contour, and 58 homes are forecast to be within the 2008 DNL 65 dB noise contour. * A Public Information Meeting (PIM) is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 6:30 pm at the Southbury Hilton. Comments Received from AC: * It was inquired whether the Taxiway “B” extension was a safety matter. Paul McDonnell explained that the extension would improve safety by reducing the need for aircraft to cross the runway. * It was inquired whether temperature inversions affect the output of the INM. Paul McDonnell and John Silva indicated that temperature inversions can affect noise, but the affect is highly variable. The INM uses standard atmospheric conditions as the model is used to estimate noise on an average day (under typical conditions). * It was inquired why the activity levels and forecasts of former OXC studies were much higher than the ongoing AMPU. Paul McDonnell explained that previous estimates were made prior to the construction of the Control Tower, and were based on various tenant surveys and approximations. The previous activity estimates were also made at a time when flight training at OXC was higher, and included a substantial numbers of local operations. Business operations now account for a large portion of activity at OXC. These operators conduct many of their flights at other airports during business travels. * In reference to the hangar development options, an AC member inquired whether it is the intent to solicit private sector investment or rely on the State and FAA monies. John Silva indicated that the FAA does not participate financially in hangar development. Both past and future hangar development at OXC would be privately funded. * An AC member questioned the use of Sikorsky-76 (S-76) helicopter in the INM for representing over flights. Paul McDonnell indicated that over flight activity is mostly of helicopters flying between NYC and Hartford. These over flights do not include any landings at OXC. The control tower staff identified the S-76 as the most frequent helicopter type that transitions the local airspace. * Raymond Pietrorazio indicated that the Town of Middlebury is opposed to construction of a power plant adjacent to the Airport. Note: Prior to opening the meeting to public comments, the AC was asked if there were any additional comments on any study issues or alternatives. No additional comments were received. Comments Received from Public: * Several local college students were in the audience as part of class activities. A few general study items were discussed. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.