The City of Fresno Airports Department is updating the Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs) for Fresno Yosemite International Airport to reflect current and projected airport operations and provide an up-to-date assessment of aircraft noise exposure in the surrounding community.

The NEM element of the Part 150 “Airport Noise Compatibility Planning” process describes the airport layout and operation, aircraft-related noise exposure, land uses in the airport environs, and the resulting noise/land use compatibility within the 65 decibels (dB) CNEL contour. Part 150 requires that the documentation address aircraft operations during two time periods: the year of submission and a forecast year at least five years following the year of submission to the FAA for acceptance.

In accordance with FAA guidance, an Airport Noise Compatibility Study pursuant to Part 150 relies on the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) in California to assess land use compatibility. Through the Part 150 process, the City has adopted the FAA’s and State of California guidelines/regulations that considers all land uses compatible with aircraft noise below 65 dB CNEL and assesses land uses exposed to CNEL of 65 dB or greater to identify non-compatible land uses in accordance with Table 1 in Appendix A of 14 CFR Part 150. Noise sensitive land uses exposed to CNEL of 65 dB or greater may be eligible for federal funding for noise mitigation measures. Such measures and potential eligibility will be assessed in the Part 150 process.

CNEL is the noise metric required for use in the State of California, and accepted by the FAA for use in California, to assess land uses incompatible with noise from aircraft operations.

The FAA requires use of its Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) to generate noise exposure contours from aircraft operations used to assess land use compatibility around airports. AEDT is a software system that models aircraft performance in space and time to estimate fuel consumption, emissions, and noise. The AEDT uses the following aircraft operational data when generating noise exposure contours from aircraft operations:

• Total number of aircraft operations

• Aircraft operations by type of aircraft

• Aircraft operations by time of day

• Aircraft operations by runway use

• Aircraft operations by flight track

• Aircraft operational procedures, including touch and goes

To ensure consistency among all U.S. airports, the FAA requires the use of its noise model, AEDT, to generate aircraft noise exposure contours. The noise algorithms in AEDT use the results of measurement data provided via the aircraft certification process. Noise measurements typically occur at a relatively small number of discrete monitoring locations not intended to generate contours but rather to monitor changes in noise levels over time. For consistency purposes, the FAA does not allow noise measurements to validate or calibrate the model.

The NEM update is conducted with the assistance of the consulting team, HMMH, through extensive data collection, noise exposure modeling, land use compatibility analyses, and community engagement, guided by FAA regulations and standards. To further assist this effort, a Technical Advisory Committee will be used to review documentation and analysis results and provide pertinent expertise and two public open houses will be used to disseminate the information and receive comments on the NEM.

Yes, it was most recently completed in 2018.

The Noise Exposure Map update is funded by The City of Fresno Airports Department with assistance from an FAA grant.

The final NEM is expected to be submitted to FAA in summer 2027.

Stay connected throughout the study process by signing up for updates, visiting the website for the latest information, and attending open house meetings to learn more provide feedback and review the results.