Tom Cullerton announces start of Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test

VILLA PARK- State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is excited to announce the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test Plan for O'Hare International Airport starting today, Wednesday, July 6.

The goal of the new plan is to find a more balanced distribution of noise exposure for DuPage County and surrounding communities during overnight hours.

"The Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test Plan is the result of everyone's hard work. Different layers of government, community organizations and local residents, worked as a team to try to eliminate this problem," Cullerton said. "My hope is this will provide us with a long-term solution to alleviate these communities from unnecessary disturbances."

Cullerton said that the six-month test which has designated nighttime arrival and departure runways at O'Hare, will be rotated on a weekly basis.

The weekly schedule was developed to achieve a balanced approach that uses east-west parallel runways as well as diagonal runways. The test will only apply to overnight hours when flight demands can be fulfilled by a single arrival or departure runway, or a mixed-use runway.

The rotation schedule is designed to minimize the impact to communities with the same operation type (arrival or departure) for two consecutive weeks. The purpose of the test is to evaluate a condition that could be in place until Runway 14R/32L is permanently closed in 2018.

The criteria used for the test plan was approved by the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) in May. Area residents can visit www.flychicago.com/flyquiettest maintained by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), where residents can provide feedback, learn more about the test plan as well as view the week by week rotation schedule.

Cullerton stresses to area residents that their feedback is crucial component for the success of the testing period. The comments and data will be collected and reviewed during the test period to determine the effectiveness of the rotation plan. The CDA will general reports that will be available throughout the test period.

"I can't reiterate the importance of DuPage county residents providing accurate and constant feedback through the CDA's website," Cullerton said. "Community input will decide the success of the Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test Plan and help us move forward eliminating this problem."

DuPage residents can also reach out to Cullerton's website at www.SenatorTomCullerton.com or call his Villa Park office at (630) 903-6662 with any questions or concerns.

To continue his efforts to bring state government to the residents of the 23rd State Senate District, Cullerton hosted two town hall meetings this spring to give an update on efforts to reduce O'Hare Airport's air traffic noise and pollution. He plans to hold additional town halls a few months into the Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test Plan to have an active dialogue with area residents on the effectiveness of the plan.