Elmhurst council hears O'Hare noise, construction and Fly Quiet update; FAA review pending

Elmhurst — Officials from the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) briefed the Elmhurst City Council on Feb. 2 about recent O'Hare airfield operations, construction projects that affected runway use in 2025 and a proposed Fly Quiet nighttime runway rotation now under FAA review.

"We have 61 members, municipalities, school districts, and counties and Chicago wards," said Maura Almatinani, executive director of the ONCC, describing the commission's role in advocating for noise mitigation and assisting residents. Consultant Brianna Moyer gave the council an operational snapshot, saying total 2025 operations at O'Hare were 857,392 (arrivals plus departures), an average of about 2,349 operations per day — roughly 7% fewer operations than in the 2019 pre‑pandemic baseline.

Why it matters: Elmhurst aldermen pressed presenters for detail after several council members reported increased departures and more frequent overflights in parts of the city. The presentation explained how runway availability, new runways commissioned in 2022 and intermittent construction closures in 2025 shifted some arrivals and departures across the field, which can change which neighborhoods see the most aircraft noise on particular days.

The presentation and council discussion Brianna Moyer stressed that "the FAA ... decides how runways are used," noting runway selection is a function of wind, weather and ground conditions; CDA staff monitor operations and ground works but do not control FAA traffic management. Presenters reviewed 2025 airfield projects including Terminal Area Plan work, taxiway closures and an Illinois Tollway bridge installation that put Runway 10R out of service from May through November 2025 and moved arrivals north to Runway 9 Center. A separate October–November 2025 phase of work closed Taxiway Alpha and temporarily took Runway 28R out of service, shifting many departures to Runway 27L. Presenters said a Phase 2 of that grade‑separation project is expected March–November 2026 and could cause similar temporary impacts.

On the Fly Quiet proposal, the ONCC Fly Quiet Subcommittee developed and the ONCC approved an alternative called B3; CDA transmitted that recommendation to the FAA about three years ago. Presenters described the proposal as a voluntary overnight rotation that isolates operations to the North Airfield, South Airfield or crosswind runways on a 12‑week cycle so communities receive predictable, rotating relief. The program targets hours generally considered nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), but presenters cautioned the exact timing can vary with demand and FAA air‑traffic needs.

FAA review and modeling Presenters said the FAA is reviewing the proposal to determine the appropriate NEPA process (ranging from a categorical exclusion to an environmental impact statement). The FAA has performed modeling to estimate noise contours under the proposed rotation and will determine whether and how the modeled 65 DNL (Day‑Night Average Sound Level) contour changes under the proposal; eligibility for federal sound‑insulation programs is typically determined from those modeled contours. ONCC and CDA representatives said the FAA's determination — which could include additional environmental analysis — will drive next steps and timing.

Monitoring, complaints and mitigation Council members asked whether complaint data, local noise monitors and other citizen inputs influence mitigation. CDA representatives said complaint lines and online inquiry forms are used for outreach and case follow‑up (CDA contacts top complainants quarterly). They offered Elmhurst the option to request a temporary portable noise monitor or discuss installation of a permanent monitor; they also clarified that eligibility for federally funded sound‑insulation programs is based on modeled contours (65 DNL) rather than short‑term local meter snapshots. CDA reported it has sound‑insulated over 12,000 homes around O'Hare and a bit over 10,000 around Midway, a combined total exceeding 22,000 residences to date under federal programs.

Council reaction and follow up Several aldermen pressed for more data about daily departures, the use of Runway 22L and whether pilots adhere to noise‑abatement headings; presenters said Landrum & Brown (consultant) monitors nightly Fly Quiet adherence and relays deviations to the FAA, which uses training and outreach when deviations are persistent. CDA offered to provide additional operational data and to follow up after the meeting. ONCC noted it will present an updated airfield construction briefing to ONCC members on April 30.

The council did not take action on the Fly Quiet proposal; the status remains that the ONCC/CDA recommendation (alternative B3) is with the FAA for review and any required environmental analysis.