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On May 27, 2005 the Boca Raton Airport Authority announced its role as a member of a national coalition seeking Congressional action to close a noisy loophole in a 15 year-old law. Sound Initiative: A Coalition for Quieter Skies is an airport-driven grassroots effort that wants to phase out older Stage 1 and 2 aircraft weighing less than 75 thousand pounds. “We see this effort as part of our commitment to be responsive to our neighbors’ concerns in a pro-active manner.”

Sound Initative - Goals:

Sound Initiative's goal is to end the use of older Stage 1 and 2 Jet aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds. An airport-industry led coalition comprised of government, environmental, and anti-noise proponents, Sound Initiative will work to encourage Congress to phase out Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft under 75,000 pounds, just as the requirements found in the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act did for aircraft over 75,000 pounds.

Background for Stage 1 and 2 Aircraft:

Aircraft noise has long been one of the most significant challenges facing airport operators, their tenants and their neighbors. The United States Congress recognized this to some extent when it passed the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990.

The act called for phasing out Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft, those considered the loudest, by the year 2000. But Congress only applied the Act to aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds. While commercial airlines and others had to develop plans to eliminate those aircraft from their fleets before the end of a ten-year period, there was no proposal or requirement by Congress to eventually discontinue the use of Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft under the 75,000 pound weight limit.

Today, although those aircraft are small in number relative to all aircraft, many airports across the United States report that they account for a majority of noise complaints. In fact, at some airports, fifty percent or more of the noise complaints received are related to Stage 1 or 2 aircraft.

With an increase in efficiencies of modern aircraft and a decrease in the noise they generate, more numerous options are available to operators today that weren't available in 1990. We believe it's time for Congress to revisit the issue of Stage 1 and Stage 2 aircraft. It's time to implement a strategy that calls for phasing out the aircraft exempt from the provisions of the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act.

A list of typical Stage 2 aircraft that frequent the Boca Raton Airport is shown below. It’s these aircraft that Sound Initiative wants to phase out with the federal government’s assistance.

Falcon 10/100, 20/200 Gulfstream II/IIB/III Hawker 125 400/600 LearJet 23/24/25 Lockheed Jetstar North American Sabreliner Rockwell Jet Commander

Why Should my Organization Join Sound Initiative?

Sound Initative is a "grass roots" effort and will require Airport, local government and residential support. It is better to spread the cost of this national approach amongst a large number of entities and to show broad based constituent support to encourage Congress to act. Working together, airports and municipalities that have broad based community support can help to phase out Stage I and II jets.

Who else has joined the Sound Initiative?

In Boca Raton a broad based effort and consensus has taken place between the Airport, local municipalities and residential home owner associations. A list of the local entities that have joined Sound Initiative and the number of people they represent are presented below:

Boca Raton Airport Authority City of Boca Raton - representing ~15,000 residents City of Delray Beach - representing ~12,000 residents City of Deerfield Beach - representing ~11,000 residents Boca Del Mar Master Association - representing ~9,000 residents Boca Teeca Unit Owners Association - representing ~3,000 residents Federation of Boca Raton HOA's - representing ~9,000 residents West Boca Community Council - representing ~18,000 residents Yamato Road/Spanish River Blvd. HOA - representing ~1,350 residents

How an I help as an Individual?

As Sound Initative is a "grass roots" effort, contacting your state and federal representatives will be important. Additionally, you can encourage your local Home Owners Association or other civic minded groups to join the Initiative and show their support. The Sound Initiative web site even allows for individual donations via PayPal.

Click the list below to download further information in PDF format:

		Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990
		News Article Palm Beach Post on 6/11/2005

For more information on or to join Sound Initiative please call the Boca Raton Airport Authority at 561-391-2202 or go to http://www.soundinitiative.com.