TagSea-Tac Airport(285)

Director: James McCarroll, M.D. Editor: Peter A. Breysse, M.S., M.P.H. Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. 1972 . Vo 1 ume 20, Nos. 9, 1 0, 11 , 12 THE UNBEARABLE MENACE -- AIRPORT NOISE Noise, defined as unwanted sound, surrounds the urban dweller in a never-ending excessive and gradually increasing din of decibels. No one is exposed more intolerably than the citizen who resides in close proximity to a major airport. Exposure of humans to noise can result in both mental and physical distress. While the most noticeable effect of noise exposure involves the hearing mechanism, certain noises may result in non-auditory distress such as alterations in resoiration, circulation, basal metabolic rate. and muscle tension. These physical effects are primarily related to intensity and frequency of the offending sound. Equally important and very likely more important than the physical manifestations are the possible psychologic effects. Psychologic reactions invo 'lve a multiplicity of factors which vary v-Jith the characteristics of the sound -- the inappropriateness of the stimulus, unexpectedness of the noise, interference \'ith speech COITimunication, and intermittancy, as well as its intensity and frequency. The quality of the noise rather than the quantity is usually the deciding factor in influencing the emotional reactions to raise. No doubt the most widespread reaction to noise is that of annoyance. Certain characteristics of sound appear more annoying than others. These characteristics are: 1. Loudness- the more intense, louder noises are considered more annoying. 2. Pitch- a high pitch noise is generally more annoying than…

General Aviation - Itinerant 27,693 29,300 32,600 40,200 General Aviation - Local 1,662 1,500 1,400 1,200 Military 551 550 550 550 Total Operations 213,60~ 205,780 220,600 260,820 Estimate Forecast 1980 1985 1990 2000 Peak Hour Operations! Aircraft Operations: VFR Air Carrier/Air Taxi 47 47 48 51 General Aviation - Itinerant 7 7 7 8 General Aviation - Local 0 0 0 0 Military 0 0 0 0 Total Operations 54 54 55 59 - - - Aircraft Operations: IFR Air Carrier/Air Taxi 47 47 48 51 General Aviation - Itinerant 5 5 5 6 General Aviation - Local 0 0 0 0 Military 0 0 0 0 Total Operations 52 52 53 57 - - - - lpeak hour of the average day of the peak month Source: The Port of Seattle -2- D/060/25B -- 02/24/82 Comparison of Forecasts of Annual Operations Exhibit 2 presents the Airspace Study forecast along with the three most recently prepared forecasts of annual operations at King County International Airport (Boeing Field). The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) forecast was prepared for the Washington State Airport System Plan (October 1980) and used as a basis for the Airspace Study forecast. The Federal Aviation Admin- istration (FAA) forecast was prepared for the FAA Aviation Forecast--Seattle- Tacoma (December 1979). Both the WSDOT and FAA forecasts were prepared during a period of high and increasing levels of aircraft operations. Projections of high levels of aircraft operations resulted. The Puget Sound Council of Governments (PSCOG) forecast was prepared…