For regular updates and information, please visit the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission website

Fly Quiet Program

Information about the program can be found by visiting: https://oharenoise.org/noise-management/fly-quiet-program 

Information on How to Noise File a Complaint

• By telephone, call (800) 914-8537
• Click here to file a noise complaint online.

Finding solutions to overnight jet noise around O’Hare is getting more challenging due to stonewalling by the FAA and City of Chicago

Post Date:03/26/2025

The FAA and City of Chicago oversee reviewing the proposed Fly Quiet 21 (FQ21), a runway rotation plan intended to distribute overnight aircraft noise more fairly across the region.  FQ21 has been in development for several years, and numerous alternatives were considered to distribute the noise more fairly.  Ultimately, the City of Chicago submitted only one alternative to the FAA as part of a required environmental review that will provide analysis of the real-world impacts of FQ21 on area residents.

The Suburban O’Hare Commission (SOC), which Wood Dale is a part of, are concerned that the FAA and the City of Chicago are ignoring potential alternatives to this problem. The FAA is required by law to consider the environmental impacts on any significant change to airport operations and in doing so must consider all reasonable alternatives. Currently, the FAA seems intent on overlooking an alternative that will deliver the most relief to the most people, in favor of only reviewing the alternative put forward by the City of Chicago.  

Last year, in response to a lawsuit from Elk Grove Village (a SOC member), the FAA agreed in writing to follow federal law requiring the review of reasonable alternatives and consider public input before making a final decision. SOC members have since learned that the FAA appears to be going back on its word and does not intend to consider other reasonable alternatives as part of the review.  Repeated letters and phone calls to officials at the FAA and the City of Chicago have been ignored, prompting this letter seeking an explanation.  SOC is committed to advocating on behalf of impacted residents to ensure that a proper review is completed to understand impacts before Chicago implements a permanent plan for overnight noise.

Why H3 is better for Wood Dale than B3

• Wood Dale is impacted by operations on the two sets of East/West (parallel) runways at O’Hare.
• Alternative H and Alternative B both rely on rotating operations between 3 sets of parallel runways – the northern East-West runways, the southern East-West runways, and the diagonal crosswind runways.  In a perfectly fair plan, the impact would be split 33.3% to each set of runways, but due to factors such as wind, the need for longer runways, etc, that is difficult to accomplish. As an example, any week a crosswind runway is assigned as primary, there is also a designated long runway, which heavier/louder plans will use, on either the northern or southern set of East-West runways
• Alternative B assigns 1/3 of operations to the crosswind runways in its rotation plan,
• Due to compliance issues (weather, etc.) and the need for longer runways, the actual result of this plan is that 76-81% of overnight operations end up on the East West Runways
• Alternative H assigns 1/2 of operations to the crosswind runways in its rotation plan,
• This plan considers the compliance issues and need for longer runways, resulting in 68-72% of overnight operations on the East West Runways
• As Alternative H involves less usage of the East-West parallel runways that impact Wood Dale, it would result in less impact to Wood Dale.
• The information above is without regard to headings, which can also affect community impact. This is why part of SOC’s request is to include a heading analysis as part of the study, to understand the true noise impact of turns before making these decisions, instead of what ONCC did in their discussions, which was that assuming using two different headings from one runway would necessarily provide relief.  

O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission

The O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) is the organization dedicated to reducing aircraft noise in communities around O’Hare International Airport. For additional information call (773) 686-3198 or visit oharenoise.org.

Residential Sound Insulation Program

The ONCC actively oversees the O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP) and will work with the Chicago Department Aviation to determine construction and phasing schedules. As required by the FAA Record of Decision, all sound insulation for homes within the 65 DNL area of Full Build-Out noise contour must be completed by completion of the O’Hare Modernization Program.

To qualify for soundproofing your home MUST reside in the current noise contour map. The City of Wood Dale is working with other surrounding communities to urge the FAA to redraw this contour map to more accurately reflect the current day changes in runway usage and configuration. To see if your home qualifies call the Residential Sound Inquiry Line at (773) 894-3255 or use the Interactive Property Locator.

If your home is not eligible for the Residential Sound Insulation Program, the RSIP has put together a booklet on tips for homeowners to reduce sound transmission through their home. The booklet can be found by visiting http://oharenoise.org

For questions regarding warranties for work provided under the Chicago Department of Aviation Residential Sound Insulation Program please call (773) 894-3636. 

Locations of Wood Dale Noise Monitors

• Corner of Grove and Center
• Oak Meadows Near Edgewood
• 744 N. Edgewood (Industrial Park)
• Bensenville - An Omnidirectional Monitor Which Picks Up Noise within a 3 Mile Radius of the Wood Dale Runway Path.

FAA Frequently Asked Questions 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  posts all frequently asked questions they receive from communities. Questions and answers can be found here.