The Broward County Aviation Department (BCAD) is committed to minimizing current and potential noise impacts from operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The BCAD's noise compatibility efforts include:

• Quieter Skies Report
• Filing a Noise Complaint
• Noise Compatibility Study 
• Airport Noise Abatement Committee 
• Noise Contour Development
• Aircraft Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS)  
• Informal Runway Use Program
• Noise Abatement Procedures
• Idle Power & Full Power Engine Run-up Procedure

Other Information

• Frequently Asked Noise Questions
• Glossary of Aviation and Aircraft Noise Terms 
• Roles and Responsibilities

back to top

Quieter Skies Report

The Partnership of Quieter Skies Report provides an overview of the progress to reduce the noise impacts of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

2007 Editions
First Quarter (PDF - 2.62 MB)
Second Quarter (PDF - 1.65 MB)
Third Quarter (PDF - 2.6 MB)
Fourth Quarter (PDF - 2.92 MB)

2008 Editions
First Quarter (PDF - 2.46 MB) 
Second Quarter (PDF - 4.62 MB)
Third Quarter (PDF - 7.14 MB) 

                                                                                                                                                                  back to top

Filing a Noise Complaint

To file a formal noise complaint, choose one of the following options:

1. By E-mail: Download, complete, and save the appropriate Adobe Acrobat* (PDF - 45 KB) or MS Word** form and return the completed form to us as an e-mail.

2. By Fax: Fax the completed form to the Broward County Aviation Department at 954-359-1335

3. By Mail, mail the completed form to:

                                  Broward County Aviation Department
                                  Office of Noise Information
                                  100 Aviation Blvd.
                                  Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

* Standard version of Adobe Acrobat or above required (the free, downloadable Adobe Acrobat Reader is not sufficient to save the file).
** Microsoft Word required.

                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study

Noise Mitigation Principles Submitted to FAA
On November 6, 2007, the Broward County Commissioners unanimously voted to authorize Kent George, Director of the Aviation Department, to submit to the FAA proposed Noise Mitigation Principles. Before the deliberation and vote, the Commissioners heard the comments from 12 individuals.
 
The FAA will consider these principles for inclusion in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the Record of Decision (ROD) in the extension of the preferred runway alternative at FLL.
These broad proposed Noise Mitigation Principles include:

1. Apply the long-term/ultimate unrestrained contour
2. Establish mitigation areas based on neighborhoods
3. Voluntary acquisition of mobile home parks in the +65 DNL
4. Sound proofing and easement
5. Purchase assurance/sales guarantee
6. Voluntary acquisition of residentially zoned vacant parcels
7. Provide noise mitigation in excess of minimum federal guidelines

The FAA may choose to incorporate some or all of these principles in the FEIS and ROD. Once the FAA issues their final document, the Aviation Department will later provide a Noise Compatibility Program to the Board for consideration. There will be a public hearing in the future for the Noise Compatibility Program that will ultimately outline Broward County's Mitigation and Abatement Policy.

View the letter to the FAA. (PDF - 920 KB)

March 2007 Part 150 Noise Study Presentation
View the presentation to the Board of County Commissioners from their March 6 Workshop (PDF - 1.26 MB).

Noise Compatibility Study
The FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study (PDF - 4.69 MB) of the Federal Aviation Regulation was established under the Federal Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979. A Noise Compatibility Study includes the development of a Noise Exposure Map and a Noise Compatibility Program. It involves analyzing existing and future noise exposure, identifying appropriate uses for land surrounding the Airport, and recommending noise mitigation programs to benefit surrounding communities.

The BCAD completed Noise Compatibility Studies for the Airport in 1987 and 1994. Leigh Fisher Associates (LFA) were selected in June, 2005 as the consultant to prepare a new Noise Compatibility Study. This new study is underway and public meetings will be scheduled to receive community input.

Meetings Discussed Noise Study
Consultants from Leigh Fisher Associates discussed the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study and obtained input and feedback from the officials of Dania Beach, Davie, and Hollywood, members of the Airport Advisory Board of Fort Lauderdale, and residents. The meetings were scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at 7 p.m., City of Dania Beach Commission Chambers, 100 West Dania Beach Blvd.

Monday, May 15, 2006 at 7 p.m. Town of Davie Meeting Room, 6591 Orange Drive.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 1 p.m. City of Hollywood Commission Chambers, 2600 Hollywood Blvd.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 7 p.m., Town of Davie Council Chambers, 6591 Orange Drive

Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 1:30 p.m., Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport Advisory Board, FXE Airport Conference Room, 6000 Northwest 21 st Ave.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) considers the input from jurisdictions critical to the development and assessment of potential recommendations. The meetings with these local governments provided an opportunity to involve city officials, board members, and the public.

The initial tasks of this Part 150 Study call for the consultant team to assist Broward County (1) identify mitigation elements that will be provided to the FAA’s Environmental Impact Statement for areas eligible for mitigation under Federal guidelines that are impacted by the proposed south runway extension; and (2) develop more general airport noise mitigation policies to guide additional County-sponsored mitigation.

To receive notices about future meetings, provide your name and address to the Community Outreach Office or call 954-359-6977.

                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

Airport Noise Abatement Committee
BCAD established the Airport Noise Abatement Committee (ANAC) in 1992. This is an ongoing, cooperative public forum where the aviation community and public can meet to discuss aircraft noise impacts in neighborhoods around FLL, and monitor noise-related trends. ANAC also formulates recommendations for the BCAD Aviation Director resulting in increased effectiveness of FLL noise compatibility programs. All interested parties are encouraged to participate in these meetings.

The March 9, 2009, ANAC meeting included a presentation on the Voluntary Residential Sound Insulation Pilot Program.

View the presentation (PDF - 2 MB) 

View the ANAC Charter (PDF - 1.5 MB)

View the schedule of ANAC Meetings

Review the previous minutes:

2005 Meetings Minutes
March 14 (PDF - 20 KB)
June 13 (PDF - 20 KB)
September 12 (PDF - 32 KB)
December 12 (PDF - 341 KB)

2006 Meetings Minutes
March 13 (PDF - 264 KB)
June 12 (PDF - 28 KB)
September 11 (PDF - 30 KB)
December 11 (PDF - 40 KB)

2007 Meetings Minutes
March 12 (PDF - 31 KB)
June 11 (PDF - 28 KB)
September 10 (PDF - 23 KB)
December 10 (PDF - 32 KB)

2008 Meetings Minutes
March 10 (PDF - 32 KB) 
June 9 (PDF - 32 KB)
October 20 (PDF - 34 KB)
December 8 (PDF - 34 KB)

2009 Meetings Minutes
March 9 (PDF - 68 KB)
June 8 (PDF - 56 KB)
September 14 (PDF - 72 KB)
     View the full presentation (PDF - 178 KB)
     View the text only version of the presentation (PDF - 18 KB)
                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

Noise Contour Development
Annual noise contours monitor the extent of noise exposure on a continuing basis. The ANAC reviews and interprets the contours. The contours are prepared in a manner consistent with Part 150 Noise Exposure Map requirements.

View a Noise Contour Map of the following years:

2003 (PDF - 11.1 MB) 

2004

2005 (PDF - 784 MB)

2012 (PDF - 3.17 MB)

                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

Aircraft Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS)
FLL has a full-time Noise Officer on staff. This individual is responsible for:

• Operating and maintaining ANOMS.
• Assisting in the implementation of noise abatement measures.
• Talking with citizens who have questions or concerns regarding aircraft noise. 
•  Maintaining the latest information related to aircraft noise around FLL.

ANOMS consists of two basic elements: a radar system for the purpose of acquiring flight track information, and 10 permanent noise monitoring stations.

The ANOMS main server collects data from both the PASSUR (Passive Secondary Surveillance Radar) and the noise monitors. The integration of these two systems allows the Noise Officer to gather information on the flight of aircraft and the resultant noise levels in communities surrounding FLL.

We use the radar data acquired from the PASSUR to

• Communicate a property's location relative to typical arrival and departure corridors
• Confirm that airplanes are adhering to our Noise Abatement Departure tracks
• Perform operational analyses. An operational analysis can provide information about the numbers, types, and altitudes of airplanes that fly over a specific property during a given time period.

How does FLL use the noise monitors?
Unattended noise monitoring is imprecise. The monitors are not as sophisticated as our brains and our ears. Human beings are sensitive to tonal variations; our noise monitors are not. Human beings can look up and verify that what sounds like an airplane really is one. The monitors cannot do that.

The noise monitoring sites attempt to differentiate between aircraft and other noise sources by referencing programmed algorithm thresholds as noise events progress. Later on, ANOMS software compares tentatively identified aircraft noise events to radar data to see if aircraft were nearby when the event in question occurred.

The best current potential use of the noise-monitoring portion of the system is to confirm Integrated Noise Model (INM) input should what is monitored and what is generated by INM differ significantly. The monitors also let us look at the average noise levels of different types of aircraft.

Permanent Noise Monitors (PDF - 2 MB) are located at the following addresses.

                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

• Helicopter arrival and departure procedures
• preferential runway use
• operational safety criteria

View a description of the Informal Runway Use Program (PDF - 1.53 MB).  

                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

Noise Abatement Procedures
The BCAD offers a voluntary program of operational noise abatement measures for all turbojet aircraft operators/pilots (regardless of weight).

More information on Noise Abatement Procedures (PDF - 1.17 MB). 

                                                                                                                                                                   back to top

Frequently Asked Noise Questions

The following frequently asked questions (PDF - 81 KB) are answered:

What is DNL?
What is ANOMS?
Which is Quieter - An Arrival or Departure?
How Are Noise Levels Determined?
What Are Noise Contours?
Who Tells Airplanes Where To Go?
Why Certain Airplanes Are Lower Than Others?
How Are Runways Numbered?
Why Can;t the Noise Monitors Create a Noise Exposure Contour Map?
                                                                                                                                                                  back to top

Glossary of Aviation and Aircraft Noise Terms

The glossary contains 120 definitions (PDF - 34 KB) of common aviation and aircraft noise terms.

                                                                                                                                                               back to top

Roles and Responsibilities
The Aviation Noise Abatement Policy of 1976 summarized the key responsibilities of various entities to control aircraft noise.

The FAA
This federal government agency has the authority and responsibility to reduce aircraft noise at the source, implement safe (and legal) noise abatement operational procedures which are recommended by the airport proprietor, and encourage compatible land development.

Airport Proprietors
They are primarily responsible for planning and implementing actions that manage the effects of aircraft noise within the airport's environs. Such actions include noise abatement ground procedures; land acquisition; acoustical treatments; other controls which do not discriminate, create an unsafe situation, impede the management of the air navigation system, or interfere with interstate or foreign commerce; and suggesting noise abatement operational procedures.

State/Local Governments and Planning Agencies
These agencies are responsible for compatible land development through zoning, promulgating and enforcing building codes that incorporate acoustically attenuating materials into edifices (especially residences), and disclosing the noise impacts to their citizens.

Air Carriers
These private companies are responsible for retiring, replacing, and retrofitting older jets (per FAA regulations) and for flying aircraft in ways to minimize noise impacts on surrounding communities.

Residents and Prospective Residents
In areas surrounding airports, they should strive to understand the noise problem and measures which can be taken to minimize the effect of noise.

Pilots
As the person in charge of operating the aircraft, the pilot has the ultimate responsibility. Although the airline sets the noise abatement departure profile, and the FAA assigns the flight track and altitude, the pilot still maintains the authority to make final judgments. Based on safety criteria, the pilot may alter these procedures. In general, it is up to the pilot to adhere to noise abatement procedures whether for departure or arrival.