Two people filed almost half of all 2016 airplane-noise complaints: YYC CEO
Last year, a single Calgarian complained to the Calgary Airport Authority 1,707 times about aircraft noise.
That’s, on average, almost five phone calls or online submissions to the airport authority every single day, to vent about the sound of planes.
Another resident voiced concerns 1,094 times last year — almost three times per day, on average.
Together, those two people made up nearly half of the 6,458 noise concerns the Calgary Airport Authority tallied in all of 2016.
In an annual update to city council, Bob Sartor, CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority, said even with frequent complaints from eight people, including the two people who complained more than 1,000 times each, the total concerns about aircraft noise decreased 39 per cent last year.
That comes after noise complaints plagued Calgary Airport officials when a new runway opened in 2014.
Soon after the $600-million runway opened, residents in Whitehorn, Marlborough, Radisson Heights and Rundle, including Ward 5 Coun. Ray Jones, complained that sound of planes was keeping them awake at night.
On Monday, council heard the airport authority has found success with a variety of noise management tools, including a community consultative committee, a noise concerns hotline and stateof-the-art technology including a flight tracking system and noise monitoring terminals.
“Our noise calls have gone down considerably ... from everyone other than eight people,” Sartor told council Monday.
Calgarians can complain about aircraft noise 24 hours a day, seven days a week through an online form or a dedicated telephone hotline.
The aircraft noise concerns counted by the Calgary Airport Authority are consistent with findings from a 2016 American study, which found a small number of people account for a disproportionately large share of total airplane noise complaints.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi told reporters Monday he’s pleased the local airport noise issue is being dulled.
“If it drives you crazy, it drives you crazy,” Nenshi said, of the big number of complaints from two people. “I am however confident that the (Airport Community Consultative Committee) are actually doing some really good work to mitigate the impact of the airport noise on existing communities,” he said.