McKinney airport commercial terminal highlights minimal noise impact: preliminary study

Results from preliminary environmental studies for the planned commercial air service terminal at McKinney National Airport were presented during an open house meeting Wednesday.

This was the second open house where residents could view the studies and ask questions ahead of the May election which will have a $200 million bond item on the ballot to fund projects at McKinney National Airport, including the new terminal.

The presentation included more information on the noise impact, and showed the amount of residential and commercial properties surrounding McKinney National Airport’s proposed terminal compared to properties surrounding Addison Airport and Dallas Love Field. The preliminary environmental analysis is based on 20 daily departures.

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“We’re not desperate for cash flow, we don’t need a project to make us whole — we already are. We’re able to look at this and say, ‘Does this make sense?’ ” said Kenneth Carley, McKinney National Airport director.

The airport noise methodology shows that a commercial jet flyover around 1,000 feet would produce a maximum noise level of 102.5 decibels for one second. This sound level can be compared with a diesel truck at 50 feet which reaches 90 decibels. .

If the day-night average sound level, or DNL — the average of the sound levels of multiple events at one location over a 24-hour period — is above 65, it is considered a nuisance noise level by the Federal Aviation Administration. Preliminary noise contours show that the 65 DNL would be only over city of McKinney-owned property in undeveloped areas.

The 2026 proposed action shows that no housing units would be exposed to a DNL of 65 or greater. The 2031 proposed action shows that one housing unit would be exposed to DNL 65 or greater, however, this unit is expected to be acquired as part of the TxDOT’s spur project.

The preliminary findings still need TxDOT Aviation and FAA review and approvals, but the noise contours will not change, said Mitchell McAnally, Garver’s North Texas aviation leader.

Updated noise contour maps

The updated noise contour map shows that while noise will increase outside of city-owned property, it will only increase by less than or equal to three decibels in the majority of areas, and will not surpass the 65 DNL regulated by the FAA.

There is no noise increase shown in downtown McKinney or in areas to the east or west of the airport.

“If you live in the east side of McKinney and this airport isn’t bothering you today, this project isn’t going to change that,” Carley said.

If the airport were to continue operating as it does today, with no commercial terminal, there would be a total average of 449.1 takeoffs and landings per day by 2026. If the terminal is built, it would add 40 operations a day, totaling 489.1 landings and takeoffs on average.

“The airport has over 400 operations a day currently so an additional 12-20 flights from a percentage increase it’s pretty minor,” Carley said, pointing out that the land around the airport is going to be developed for aeronautical use whether the commercial terminal is built or not.

Comparison to other area airports

The updated presentation also included comparison to other area airports to show the impact on commercial and residential properties.

At Dallas Love Field, 2,500 feet from the runway centerline, there are 100 commercial and 258 residential properties. At Addison Airport, the same distance from the runway, there are 113 commercial and 25 residential properties. At McKinney National Airport, there would be three commercial and five residential properties 2,500 feet from the runway centerline.

Commercial airlines that would operate at the airport have not been determined. Carley said the size of the commercial terminal would be adjusted to fit the service that is offered.

“We’re not going to build four gates and hope that somebody comes and fills it,” Carley said. “If it exceeds our highest case scenario, then we’re back to the drawing board and reevaluating the impacts of the project.”

But airlines aren’t going to come to the table until they know that the city has the financial ability to take on the project, McAnally said.

“[Airlines] made it clear that once y’all pass the bond election, we’ll come sit down and get into the nitty-gritty,” he said.

If approved, construction on the 144,000-square-foot terminal with four gates would begin between 2024 and 2025 with the terminal to open in 2026. Twelve daily departures are expected in the first year with 18 daily departures by 2040. The project will not require property acquisition.