Elected officials and community activists unveil new airplane noise data in Flushing. As NY1's Shannan Ferry explains, they're calling on aviation agencies to reduce the noise.
Loud airplanes frequently flying overhead. It's an issue Flushing resident Susan Carroll said is ruining her quality of life and getting worse.
"I mean you can't sleep, you can't watch TV, I mean in the summertime I have to run the air conditioning at all times I mean, just to drown out the noise," she said.
Carroll lives in this apartment complex on Franklin Avenue, where officials said a monitor was installed to track airplane noise in the area.
On Monday, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky joined other elected officials and community activists to reveal data collected.
Stavisky said from March through May, plane noise at the location exceeded the average noise level 32 times.
"More and more people are moving to this community, Flushing is growing and in fact so is the borough of Queens, and the noise levels keep getting louder and louder and louder," said Sen. Stavisky.
Stavisky and residents are suggesting lowering the airport noise threshold from 65 DNL to 55 DNL.
DNL stands for Day-Night Average Sound Level, which is an official way to gauge aircraft noise.
Elected officials and residents NY1 spoke with said they understand there's always going to be some airplane noise when they live near airports, but they believe there needs to be a balance.
An FAA spokesperson told NY1 in part that the agency "supports the reduction of aircraft noise where feasible in cooperation with the aviation community."
The representative went on to say "The FAA is conducting research to better understand the potential impacts of aviation noise on communities."
A spokesperson from the Port Authority told NY1 the agency is currently conducting a Federal Airport Noise Compatibly Planning Study, in addition to holding round table forums.
The federal study is designed to help better address airplane noise issues.