GREENSBORO, N.C. – This week the Federal Aviation Administration announced over $33 million in infrastructure grants in North Carolina.

What You Need To Know

  • Some money will be going to help alleviate noise around Piedmont Triad International Airport

  • According to the Citizens Advisory Committee, about 50 people complained about the noise just in the month of August

  • Only houses specified by the FAA in a specific region in between 65 and 70 decibel noise level contours, developed by the Part 150 Program, will be eligible

Some of that money will be going to help alleviate noise around Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro where noise has been a concern for some residents.

Residents like Michael Kearney said it's not unusual to hear the sounds of military jets passing over his house. He has been living in River Hills Plantation for about 20 years and lives three miles from PTI.

Kearney is also a private pilot and said he can usually tell if there is an increase in noise coming from the airport.

"When there is a reduction in traffic I notice that, so when the traffic picked back up, I did notice that," Kearney said.

Wyatt Smith also notices the noise above his home. He lives about five miles from the airport and, for the last 32 years, he said it's gotten progressively worse.

"I've complained to the airport board, and I've also requested for a decibel monitor to be placed around my residence or on my residence, and my complaints have gone unanswered," Smith said.

Smith is currently caring for his terminally ill mother and adds the noise has bothered her the more ill she becomes.

Kearney and Smith are not alone. According to the Citizens Advisory Committee, about 50 people complained about the noise just in the month of August. Luckily for some residents, those issues may be fixed after the FAA infrastructure grant allocated $2.2 million to PTI for noise mitigation.

Airport Executive Director Kevin Baker disagrees with the number of complaints, saying there were only eight in August.

Baker said only houses specified by the FAA in a specific region in-between 65 and 70 decibel noise level contours, developed by the Part 150 Program, will be eligible.

"What's done, especially if they're older houses that might have single pane windows, might have double pane windows installed, new doors that are better insulated, new insulation perhaps. Also things like changing of siding if there is aluminum or vinyl siding on a house, it may change to a different kind of siding," Baker explained.

Residents like Kearney said they are excited for this potential opportunity.

"Your neighbor is the airport, just being good neighbors, that is a tremendous gesture to the neighbors and to the neighborhoods and the community," Kearney said.

The grants include over $4 million to both Charlotte Douglas and Asheville Regional airports, in addition to funding for Fayetteville Regional and Jacksonville's airport.