By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - At the first meeting of the committee formed to advise the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on its new noise study Wednesday, airport officials stressed that members' feedback will make a difference.

"History shows that input into this process can turn into a major project," said Barb Schempf, the airport's manager of government and technical affairs. She pointed out that the direction of the new runway currently under construction, as well as other noise-reducing procedures, were ideas of members of outside advisory committees.

The airport is just beginning a $1.1 million noise study, called a Part 150 study, that is expected to take almost two years. It is the first time since 1990 that the airport has fully updated its noise maps and what it does to reduce noise, although some adjustments were made in 2000.

Since 1990, the airport has spent $132 million on land acquisition, sound insulation and other noise-reducing procedures. It entered into legal agreements with the Sisters of Charity and Delhi Township to limit noise.

Consultants from Blue Ash-based Landrum & Brown, which is conducting the study, said new demand for nighttime flying is helping push the need for an update. The Federal Aviation Administration has even been conducting tests of nighttime procedures to find solutions to the problem.

Such an update could result in new noise boundaries, which could mean hundreds more residents surrounding the airport would be within areas that would require possible buyouts or extra sound insulation.

The noise study is being conducted in conjunction with an update of the airport's master plan, which was last approved in 1996 and was based on 1991 data. Such updates have resulted in identifying the need for new runways and taxiways. That study also is due at the end of 2005, about when the new north-south runway is to open.

Despite the previous examples given, some of the 30-plus government, airline and air traffic control officials in attendance Wednesday expressed skepticism that they could influence the process. The airport invited 110 different stakeholders from western Hamilton County and Northern Kentucky to participate, and several officials and residents of Ohio communities attended Wednesday's meeting.

"It's a moving target, making it difficult to sit down and find answers," Florence Mayor Diane Whalen said. "We just sat down to adjust this a couple of years ago, and here we are again.

"When you have such a diverse group, everyone looks after themselves. But I am encouraged that suggestions from outsiders have been used in the past."

Harvey Richardson, a retired air traffic controller from Hebron who is a member of the Airport Noise Advisory Committee, suggested that experts such as pilots and controllers work out the safest and most efficient procedures possible and then take those to the full committee to work out noise implications.

"Otherwise, you just placate the politicians or just certain areas instead of solving the problem," Richardson said.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com