Increase in noise from airplanes over central/southern MA??? (Boston: 2015, neighborhood)

[katzenfreund]

Is it just me or is there a LOT more noise from airplanes? When we moved here from Maryland, I remember that there was substantially less noise by airplanes than the Maryland area we came from. Now it seems worse, by far. Not only is there increased noise from small planes (probably more flying due to cheaper oil prices???), but also a lot more jets flying. We live not too far above the CT border, near 84 and I often go out for walks at night. Even then, you can hear at least one jet flying over every minute or two.. considering we live more than an hour from Logan and a good hour from Bradley... this seems like a lot.

[mpafr012]

You are under the flight path to and from Europe from Eastern US so all flights over fly that area.

[katzenfreund]

It seems like it got a LOT worse in the past couple of years. Wonder if it has anything to do with NextGen. I used to remark how few planes I would hear... not anymore!

[Cloudship]

There is an app called Plane finder for Android. Basically it displays all the planes above you that have filed a flight plan and are under air traffic control. You can use that to figure out what planes are flying by when you hear them.

I am not sure why you are hearing them more - in many cases they are pretty far away and not too audible. But this has been an air traffic route route for years and year. They follow the coast line flying trans Atlantic.

[lrfox]

In short- flight paths to/from Logan have changed in the past few years as Logan has implemented a new navigation system (and noise complaints have increased). In addition, Logan has added flights (a ton of new routes as well as increased frequencies on existing routes) and that trend will likely continue for the time being as more fuel-efficient aircraft and increased air traffic worldwide make Logan a more viable destination for airlines. While you're further from Logan than where the majority of the complaints are coming from, you'll still feel the changed routes/increased frequency (runways 4L/R at Logan are the most heavily trafficked, and flights approach those two from the Southwest). I'm sure some are destined for JFK, PVD, Bradley, Westchester, etc. Increased traffic to/from Europe will also play a part as any Europe flight heading to East Coast airports in NY, DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, etc. will head over your neck of the woods.

[katzenfreund]

Originally Posted by Cloudship

There is an app called Plane finder for Android. Basically it displays all the planes above you that have filed a flight plan and are under air traffic control. You can use that to figure out what planes are flying by when you hear them.

I am not sure why you are hearing them more - in many cases they are pretty far away and not too audible. But this has been an air traffic route route for years and year. They follow the coast line flying trans Atlantic.

I will have to check for that, thanks!

[katzenfreund]

Originally Posted by lrfox

In short- flight paths to/from Logan have changed in the past few years as Logan has implemented a new navigation system (and noise complaints have increased). In addition, Logan has added flights (a ton of new routes as well as increased frequencies on existing routes) and that trend will likely continue for the time being as more fuel-efficient aircraft and increased air traffic worldwide make Logan a more viable destination for airlines. While you're further from Logan than where the majority of the complaints are coming from, you'll still feel the changed routes/increased frequency (runways 4L/R at Logan are the most heavily trafficked, and flights approach those two from the Southwest). I'm sure some are destined for JFK, PVD, Bradley, Westchester, etc. Increased traffic to/from Europe will also play a part as any Europe flight heading to East Coast airports in NY, DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, etc. will head over your neck of the woods.

Thanks for that. Luckily they are not loud enough to keep us awake at night or anything like that.... but when you are outside you are certainly aware of them. No more quiet evenings in the backyard... I can't imagine what it must be like living under the flightpaths now after they implemented "NextGen"... I hope those communities will get some relief.

[BostonMike7]

Living in visual range most of my life, I guess I got immune to airplane noise. But I can remember 20 years ago, I used to be able to hear airplanes fire up their engines to full power and take off and power out. It was LOUD! You never even saw the plane, but could hear it. 727's were always the worst.


Latest crop of planes, much quieter. You really only hear them when directly overhead, and even then it wasn't too bad.


Where I live now, they cruise on over once in a while at 10K feet, and you can still hear them, but certainly not as bad as they were 20 years ago.

[katzenfreund]

I am glad they are not bothering you. I can't imagine getting immune to the noise near an airport, but I am glad you are They should give you property tax relief, for putting up with the noise

[xo_kizzy_xo]

There's a big to-do happening right now in my neck of the woods re jet noise. We've been in the middle of an established flight path for years. Planes fly over the neighborhood all the time. As BostonMike said, I guess I'm probably immune to it too. I still have childlike wonder looking up at them when I sit out on our deck at any time.

That said, and with all due respect, it's not like we're right next to Logan. Are people suddenly being super sensitive to the roar? Did people make a big to-do about it when I was a kid? I have no idea.