Briscoe Field – Current and Future Noise Maps

Once again our rocket scientist friend found some great information regarding noise impact of passenger aviation on Briscoe Field, the data source was the FAA.

The first aerial photo of the linked file shows the current noise "footprint” of Briscoe Field with the decibel contours for 75 db, 70 db, and 65 db noise levels.  The Southeastern FAA Regional office states property located within noise levels above 64 db is not fit for human habitation.  Interestingly the Western FAA Regional office establishes 55 db as the level at which human habitation is prohibited.  These are the levels at which the FAA buys your house and tears it down.

The second map shows the current zoning of land within the 65 db noise contour around Briscoe Field.  Notice that we already have a “noise” problem at Briscoe with aircraft noises exceeding 65 db.

The aerial photo on the second page is the area surrounding Briscoe Field, overlaid with a noise contour from Westchester NY, one of the models Propeller Investments has suggested they would emulate.  Westchester has a second crossing diagonally runway which overstates the width of the noise “footprint” in the center, so focus on the length of the 65 db noise contour.

Now this representation isn’t 100 percent accurate because the FAA has yet to establish flight paths, but it is a very realistic example of what we might expect if the BOC approves Briscoe expansion.