New air traffic noise maps show tripling of affected homes, people by 2023
By Aidan Quigley for VTDigger, May 29, 2019
BURLINGTON — Many more households, primarily in Winooski and Williston, will be affected by higher noise levels as the F-35 fighter jets arrive at Burlington International Airport, according to a noise map released by the Burlington International Airport Tuesday.
The total number of dwelling units exposed to average noise levels of more than 65 decibels will rise from 819 in 2015 to an estimated 2,640 in 2023, with the total population affected rising from 1,900 in 2015 to 6,125 in 2023. Half of the city of Winooski is in the noise zone.
Airport officials held a press conference and public meeting Wednesday to answer questions about the maps.
The federal government considers areas with an average noise of more than 65 decibels“unsuitable for residential use.” The F-35s will be four times as loud as the F-16s, which ended their tenure in the state in April.
The first two F-35s which will be based at the airport are set to arrive in September, with two more jets arriving each month until the airport reaches its full commitment of 18 jets by the end of summer 2020.
