Willow Glen Resident
News
New technology to help monitor aircraft noise finally on the way
By Eli Segall
San Jose is home to thousands of companies that make everything from weightless microchips to space-age missile technologies. Yet the airport, which sits right in the heart of Silicon Valley, is saddled with an outdated, slow aircraft noise-monitoring system.
Installed in 1974, the system operating at Norman Y. Mineta International Airport runs on UNIX--a high-cost, inefficient software program--and consists of several fragmented components, according to a report by the city's finance department.
The system is further impaired by microphones placed outside the airport to track noise, all of which are old and require extensive repairs. Some of these microphones are now blocked by homes and freeways that did not exist when the monitoring system was first installed, said Jamie Locquiao, San Jose airport noise abatement manager.
The last major upgrades to the system were made14 years ago, and since then there have been only small, incremental changes, Locquiao added.
But help is on the way. The San Jose City Council on Dec. 5 unanimously approved the purchase of a new $1.35 million aircraft noise and flight track monitoring system. It runs on a more efficient Windows software program, is cheaper to maintain and of the highest technological standards, Locquiao said.
"The new microphones that will monitor noise are digitized and have a lot better pickup than the current ones," Locquiao said. "They offer us greater capabilities. Now we can record and actually listen to the aircraft noise, not just get the readings."
The issue of aircraft noise is not a new one to Willow Glen residents, who share the overhead roar with downtown and Japantown.
"Getting the system is a good idea," said San Jose resident Virginia Castillo when she heard about plans. "The noise is really bad where I live, so hopefully the city will be more aware of what's going on."
Despite opening new doors for data gathering, the system will not enhance the airport's ability to catch curfew violators, said Frank Kirkbride, assistant director of aviation for the airport.
The monitoring system will be purchased with federal aviation grant monies doled out last year to San Jose strictly for the purposes of noise monitoring. Federally funded aviation projects cannot be used for curfew enforcement. This requires the use of city resources, Locquiao said.
The airport's curfew fines have accumulated to more than $300,000. The city council on Nov. 21 gave approval for the money to be spent on a host of programs, including airport internships, alternative fuel for ground shuttles and taxis and airline noise-reduction plans.
The monitoring system is a product of the Lochard Corp., an Australia-based airport noise-monitoring company, which also built the existing system. The upgraded version has been successfully implemented in more 135 installations, including San Francisco, San Diego and Oakland international airports.
The monitoring system should be installed by next summer, said airport spokesman Rich Dressler.
