BWI Plane Noise Draws Money To Shield Nearby Homes From Sound Of Loud Jets

LINTHICUM, MD — Neighbors of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport recently got money to shield their homes from the sound of loud jets.

Maryland congressmen Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin and John Sarbanes announced the news Tuesday. More than 220 households in Glen Burnie will split the $4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program.

The money will help install insulation to dim the sound of the planes flying over the homes, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Noise pollution around BWI Airport became a bigger problem in 2015. That's when the Federal Aviation Administration implemented its Next Generation Air Transportation System to modernize how it manages U.S. airspace.

This NextGen system changed the approach and departure paths near BWI. The new routes concentrated flights over neighborhoods that were not previously affected.

"Since the implementation of NextGen flight paths, airplane noise has disrupted the lives of many in our communities," Sen. Van Hollen said in a press release. "That’s why I’ve worked to push the FAA to dedicate more resources to address noise concerns and mitigate the harmful effects it has on our neighborhoods."

The Maryland congressional delegation previously asked the Federal Aviation Administration to improve its noise mitigation efforts. The leaders also urged President Joe Biden to consider noise pollution when he nominated the agency's new administrator earlier this month.

"Team Maryland will continue to work with local communities, airports and the FAA to find solutions that address noise concerns and accommodate safe aviation," Sen. Cardin said.

The lawmakers recently reintroduced legislation that would order NASA to accelerate its research and development into a potential new generation of aircraft. This style of plane would be quieter and more eco-friendly.

The Maryland delegation previously helped secure money for similar projects, including:

• $8 million to support regular engagement with communities affected by aviation noise
• $37.732 million over FY21 for research on reducing aviation emissions and noise
• $2 million to study the impact of aviation noise by the aviation sustainability center
• $37.5 million for the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise [CLEEN] program in order to accelerate the development of aircraft and engine technologies

"We will continue working to deliver the resources needed to fund noise mitigation and fully address the community’s concerns," said District 3 Rep. Sarbanes, who leads the area around BWI.

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