The O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) is the only
organization that is dedicated to reducing aircraft noise in the
communities around O’Hare International Airport. It was established in
1996, following an invitation from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley to
suburban mayors to begin constructive dialogues on aircraft noise issues
with the goal of reducing the noise.
Since its founding, the ONCC's membership has grown tremendously and now
includes 28 municipalities, Cook County and 16 school districts that
represent 45 communities around O’Hare. These 45 members are
represented by their mayors and school superintendents at approximately
30 public meetings that the ONCC and its committees hold annually.
ONCC has a full-time executive director and an administrative
coordinator and, operates through three standing committees: Technical, Residential Sound Insulation and School
Sound Insulation.
The Technical Committee identifies and promotes technological advancements that are designed to reduce
aircraft noise. The sound insulation committees oversee one of the most
aggressive residential noise remediation programs in the nation and the world’s
largest school sound insulation program. The total spending on these programs
since they began is approximately $550 million.
The Chicago Department of Aviation maintains a toll-free hotline at 1-800-435-9569 and an Aircraft Noise Complaint Form for citizens to report concern about particular aircraft events or aircraft noise levels in general. Tallies of noise complaints appear in the monthly Airport Noise Management System report.
ONCC believes in
replacing confrontation with cooperation by bringing together the city of
Chicago and suburban communities, the airlines, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), air traffic controllers and airline pilots to reduce the impact of
aircraft noise in communities surrounding O’Hare. This approach has produced
significant results —decreased aircraft noise and increased spending on sound
insulation programs.
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