The HMMH specialists remained until Monday to observe the equipment and to note the types of aircraft overhead.  Daren reported that the data downloads worked.  He said the project required a lot of effort from many people.  He had also asked Decibel members to record aircraft in the area.  Aurora Aviation kept records of runway use and some members reported aircraft observations, wind direction and runway use to Daren.

At 7:30pm a conference call was made to the consultants.
Jennifer of HMMH reviewed the project. The one-week project from Friday August 3rd to Sunday August 12 captured good data. There may be one minor file on a flexible disk that was missing, but she was pleased with the data. It will be fed into a computer to develop a line graph with noise peaks and valleys. A picture of each day will be developed. This information, along with the FAA noise model will be used to develop noise contours beginning at the 55 DB level.

Jack asked if the two samplings taken this year would provide statistically valid data.  The consultants said yes, that this information plus observation data, pilot surveys and the computer noise model would produce an accurate representation of the noise in the Aurora area.

Pilot surveys where sent out by Daren and distributed by members. About 100 of these have been returned (33%) before the deadline. There are remaining surveys to be picked up and these will be marked as being after the deadline. Bob Miles had passed out and received 20 completed surveys a recent aviation club meeting.

The data sample was OK and HMMH will have preliminary information from it in two to three weeks. They commented that they owe the Decibel committee a working paper. We may have some results of the noise data project by the next Decibel committee meeting.

Daren asked HMMH about the Right Traffic Runway 17 that the committee had proposed to be evaluated. HMMH responded that:
1. They need to complete the study before taking action on mitigation measures.
2. They appreciate any ideas for noise mitigation that the committee can forward to them for consideration.
3. HMMH said that they would be able to plug Right Traffic 17 into their noise model and produce a simulation for that type of traffic.

The conference call ended at 7:50pm.

Daren restated that the 55 DB level that is used by the State of Oregon in noise measures is lower that the FAA national 65 DB level.  Jake said he believed this is more appropriate to Aurora as much of the noise in not the loud bursts from jets, but rather the constant drone of training aircraft in the pattern.

As Bruce left at 8pm to do a charter flight, he commented that he wants to have a page filled with noise mitigation measures that can be submitted.

Anita, stated that she did not agree with Carolyn Berry's assessment of the Decibel committee.  Discussion of Carolyn's letter ensued with Jack and Bob making critical comments regarding Carolyn's letter.  The group decided to put that behind them and move on.

Linda West stated that the N2N funding was lost and her partner Cory could no longer be involved and she did not feel that she could contribute to the group in the future.  As she left the meeting she was thanked for her involvement.

There was a discussion of who would take minutes, that minutes are important.  Sue Engels had agreed to be the scribe but has not regularly attended.  We have very few minutes or meeting summaries. We discussed that there is a lack of participation by several of the members and that regular notification needs to take place to get them to the meetings.

Anita brought up the subject of who will chair the meetings. She did not feel comfortable that State Aero chair them as this is a citizens committee.  After discussion the consensus was that Nick become the chairman.  Daren will attend all the meetings.  The members felt Daren's regular involvement would be very positive.

Ann Crook stated that she had been concerned about the possibility of the committee falling apart with the departure of the Public Policy Dispute and N2N people, but after hearing first-hand what our direction is, and with Nick leading the group and with Daren involved she feels very positive

Anita proposed that we all check out the  national website for the N.O.I.S.E. group to see what measures are taken in other parts of the country.

It had been stated earlier in the meeting and in Carolyn's letter that the committee was demanding that noise mitigation measures be implemented before the study is finished.  The committee said no, that is not the case.  Jake addressed the Right traffic 17 proposal.  He stated that the committee agreed early-on to bring possible mitigation measures to the FAA and others to see if they are acceptable ones that we should focus upon.  Accordingly, he had contacted several FAA individuals in Seattle and Hillsboro prior to the July meeting to ask about Right traffic 17 and Calm wind 35. Some of the FAA representatives thought calm wind 35 was unsafe, others thought it was fine.  No one objected to Right traffic 17.  The committee voted 7 in favor, one abstaining at the July  meeting to propose right traffic 17 for consideration.  Bob Miles was chartered to discuss this with Daren to see what process we can take for evaluation as to the feasibility of this approach.

Daren said that board meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of the month inhibit his participation and after discussion the consensus was to move the next 3 meetings to the 4th Wednesday.

Thus, September 26, October 24, and November 28.  This also solves a conflict with Thanksgiving which is early this year said Anita.

The next meeting location was discussed.  Several members felt it would be good to have a meeting during good weather at the airport.  It was decided that the September 26th meeting would be held at the Columbia Aviation Association on the airport, Jack said the club would approve.  Daren cautioned that there will be construction on the ramp at that time frame in September.  The group felt that because the construction would probably not be going on during the times of our meeting we could hold it outside on the club's patio, or inside if desired.

Next meeting.  Columbia Aviation Association, 14323 Stenbock Way, Aurora Airport.
Wednesday, September 26, 2001 7:00AM to 9:00PM

Meeting was adjourned at 9pm