Norton Cosponsors Silent Skies Act to Help Reduce Airplane Noise Hurting D.C. Neighborhoods

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As part of her continued efforts to address debilitating airplane noise in District of Columbia neighborhoods, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today cosponsored the Silent Skies Act (H.R. 4171), introduced by Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Joseph Crowley (D-NY), which seeks to reduce airplane noise pollution by requiring airlines to begin stocking fleets with newer, quieter aircraft.

"I am heartened to see an increasing critical mass of jurisdictions joining the District of Columbia in insisting on mitigation of airplane noise," Norton said. "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has an obligation to take far greater steps to provide relief to communities across the country, like those here in the District, that are suffering from airplane noise pollution. Replacing old, noisy airplane engines with newer, quieter ones is a very important step."

Norton has requested a congressional hearing to explore airplane noise and its impacts on residential communities in the District and across the nation. She also wrote to House and Senate appropriators to include in the upcoming Omnibus appropriations bill an amendment requiring the FAA to review and address community concerns about recent flight path changes that were made by the FAA without any public involvement. In May, Norton held a community meeting on airplane noise with residents in the Palisades, Foxhall, Georgetown, Hillandale and other impacted neighborhoods in the District and summoned representatives of the FAA and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to explain action it had taken or planned to take as residents expressed great frustration at an increase in air traffic activity during late nighttime and early morning hours.