Regional Jets Reduce Aircraft Noise at Sea-Tac

-Horizon Air jet fleet wins "Fly Quiet" award for 2005-

The acquisition of quieter "regional jets" by airlines serving Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has markedly reduced the amount of jet noise in communities near the airport.

Success of the move was borne out this week as Horizon Air won the airport's annual Fly Quiet award for 2005. Horizon acquired and began flying Bombardier CRJ-700's in 2001.

"Horizon's acquisition of these regional jets has really helped the airport be a better neighbor," said Port of Seattle Commission President Patricia Davis. "The CRJs produce significantly less noise than the aircraft they replaced."

Honorable mention in the competition went to SkyWest Airlines, which also flies the quieter CRJ-700s. Federal Express received the 2005 Fly Quiet award for cargo airlines.

Airlines and cargo carriers operating at Sea-Tac are judged in three categories:

The overall noise from an airline's fleet as measured at Port-owned monitoring stations near Sea-Tac.

How well their pilots followed noise abatement flight paths for both take-offs and landings. The paths are designed to create the least possible noise impacts on people below.

Compliance with rules for testing engines on the ground at Sea-Tac. "Run-ups," as they are known in the industry, are necessary for flight safety, but produce a great deal of noise.

The Fly Quiet competition is for jet aircraft only, as propeller-driven aircraft fly different paths and it's not possible to make a direct comparison.

However, Davis noted that Horizon has upgraded its fleet of turboprop aircraft to larger and quieter models as well.

"The new generation of Dash-8s carry more passengers and are much quieter than previous models," she said. "That means they can serve more travelers with far less impact on airport neighbors."

Total aircraft operations at Sea-Tac have been declining since 2001. In 2005 there were 341,470 landings and take-offs at Sea-Tac, representing a nearly 5% decline over 2004.