Hundreds of planes overhead every day make life in parts of Downtown a little earsplitting at times. And as residents get used to the idea that the San Diego International Airport will operate at Lindbergh Field for the foreseeable future, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is looking for ways to make things a bit easier on the ears. Over the last several months, the Airport Authority has ramped up its efforts to reach out to the community for feedback on how to reduce overall airport noise. It’s come up with a list of mitigation procedures as part of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noise study called Part 150. Airport Authority representatives unveiled the noise-reducing measures Tuesday, March 10, during an airport noise workshop at Lindbergh field offices. “We put together the elements that we feel that would be relevant to further mitigating [noise] and sent them to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration),” said Dan Frazee, deputy director of airport noise mitigation. “Whether these elements will decrease the noise for individuals living within the noise [-affected area] is the criteria that the FAA will use in deciding whether to approve them.” If the FAA approves the Part 150 mitigation steps, the Airport Authority can apply for funds to sound-insulate homes in the most affected areas and for other programs, he said. The Quieter Home Program uses window insulation to reduce noise. A modeled map of portions of Downtown and the nearby Peninsula determines noise levels in certain communities. The map is based on generated models, not actual noise levels, used by the FAA, Frazee said. Although 24 instruments around the Peninsula monitor noise levels there, Frazee noted that the models are “not as accurate as they could be.” The Airport Authority plans to spend about $12 million to sound-insulate homes in and around the noise contour maps this year, he said. Homes participating in the program may depreciate in value. Owners must give up the right to take legal action against the Airport Authority in exchange for the soundproofed windows. Lindbergh Field’s effect on property values and development has always been a concern for residents and commercial interests. Peninsula Community Planning Board member Suhail Khalil, a real estate consultant, is also the PCPB airport committee chair and liaison to the Airport Authority on various noise-related advisory groups. Khalil said commercial property values may increase near an airport because the airport attracts tourism dollars. But that’s not the case for homes. “There are huge mansions… that could be selling for millions of dollars, but they’re not because they’re under the flight path,” Khalil said. The Airport Authority encourages other potentially noise-reducing measures that include faster aircraft ascension and flight path adjustments, according to Airport Authority ­officials. The Airport Authority suggests planes fly slightly to the north after takeoff. That, however, could also bring more noise to Mission Beach residents. Airport officials wish to prevent that by having planes fly out over the San Diego River basin, Frazee said. Neighboring communities like Pacific Beach and La Jolla should not feel the impact, however. Sending smaller planes on a southerly flight path from Lindbergh and restricting late-night departures are among some of the other measures officials hope would reduce noise. Airport officials can restrict departures by enforcing a departure curfew. They can’t, however, stop arriving flights. As a result, planes can wake residents up in the early morning. Khalil said several of the measures, combined with newer and hopefully quieter planes, should decrease overall noise level for residents. “It’s all about mitigation,” Khalil said. The San Diego City Council heard and approved the airport’s expansion report in March after it was pitched by Mayor Jerry Sanders’ airport ad hoc committee. The committee is charged with planning for the long-term development of Lindbergh Field. If accepted, the $4 billion proposal would move a terminal, build a massive transportation center and fit airplane storage space near the northeast section of the airport’s 661-acre envelope near Downtown’s Pacific Highway. Some Peninsula residents fear the planned developments will increase already-snarled traffic flow along North Harbor Drive. District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer, whose district includes Downtown, was among those voting down the report. The Airport Authority approved the final report Monday, March 23. Faulconer said he voted against it because the idea of a 5,000-car parking structure is “still floating around.” “I will not support shoehorning more cars onto North Harbor Drive. I also think that Lindbergh field only has one runway and pouring billions of dollars into this one plan will not change that.” With current operations at Lindbergh Field’s single runway expected to reach maximum capacity within the next 5 to 10 years and political bigwigs pushing for the airport expansion, interested residents can attend future Peninsula Community Planning Board airport committee meetings as a way to get involved, Khalil said. He said he plans to hold several April meetings about the massive intermodal transit center planned for the airport. The Peninsula Community Planning Board’s airport committee meets on the last Friday of the month at the Sail Ho Golf Club, 2960 Truxtun Road at Liberty ­Station. For more information. visit the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s website www.pcpb.net/ airport/.