Fairfax County supervisors went on record at their Feb. 3 meeting asking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to move forward on recommendations dispersing air traffic south of Reagan National Airport.
The voter reaffirms supervisors’ support for recommendations made last October by the Reagan National Community Noise Working Group.
That panel supported recommendations by the consulting firm Vianair to adjust arrival and departure flight paths south of the airport in an effort to reduce impact on residential neighborhoods, parks and schools.
In a letter to the FAA’s Eastern Region administrator, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said the proposal offers the potential for multiple benefits:
“By moving approximately 43% of westbound departures closer to the center of the Potomac River and shifting the primary arrival routes toward less densely populated areas, the project reduces flight concentration over noise-sensitive communities such as Hayfield, Hybla Valley, Woodlawn and Kingstowne.”
“While overall noise level reductions may be modest, the anticipated decrease of approximately 30-90 noise events above 55 dB per month represents a meaningful and measurable improvement, coupled with the visual and perceptual benefit of aircraft operating farther from residential areas.”
The proposed changes “will definitely improve the quality of life” of those living below the air corridor, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said.
Lusk’s constituents and those of Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck are among those most impacted by planes flying into and out of National Airport.
Storck said FAA approval of the recommended changes would be beneficial, but may not happen immediately.
“We’re looking at potentially three or four more years before we see an impact,” Storck said.
Leaders in Fairfax and Prince George’s counties and the City of Alexandria hired Vianair in 2023 to study the noise impacts on communities south of National Airport. An earlier study had focused on communities to the north.
“It’s been a long, long journey,” Storck said.
Recent years have brought a larger proportion of new-generation, quieter aircraft to the airport, according to data presented to the Reagan National Community Noise Working Group in January.
But they also have brought a larger number of aircraft movements in and out as passenger totals grew.
In both 2023 and 2024, there were just under 300,000 aircraft movement per year at the airport — about 98% of them either mainline or regional commercial aircraft — according to Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority data.
Final 2025 figures are expected to be down slightly when they are released later this month or in March.
In addition to recommending flight path revisions, the Reagan National Community Working Group urged MWAA last month to hire an outside consultant to weigh in on a proposed “Fly Quiet” program to support voluntary steps by airlines to reduce their noise levels.
