Some In Elmhurst 'Severely' Affected By Plane Noise: Official

ELMHURST, IL – A couple of aldermen on Monday expressed concern about plane noise to O'Hare representatives.

Last year, the airport broke a record in the number of passengers. But it recorded 7 percent fewer arrivals and departures than it did in 2019. That's because the airlines are using bigger planes with more passengers, according to O'Hare.

O'Hare was listed as the busiest U.S. airport in 2025.

At Monday's Elmhurst City Council meeting, Ward 3 Alderman Michael Bram said departures from the runway directed toward Elmhurst have increased over the last quarter-century.

Departures are noisier than arrivals because planes are powering up to reach the right altitude.

Bram, whose Elmhurst ward is closest to O'Hare, said airport officials have never considered Elmhurst as a big recipient of noise because the average decibel level is below a certain threshold.

But the alderman said some Elmhurst residents can be "severely" impacted two or three days a week, while being largely unaffected the rest of the time. The threshold, he said, should be lowered.

With federal money, the airport has installed sound insulation at 12,000 nearby homes. But Elmhurst has not met the standards to benefit from the program, airport officials said.

Ward 7 Alderman Rex Irby said he looked through pilots' materials, which say nothing about noise abatement procedures. Instead, they are told to call a certain number about that issue, he said.

But Irby said he called the number three times without a response.

"I was a little discouraged by that," he said.

Brianna Moyer, a noise consultant for O'Hare, said pilots are provided information about noise abatement. But the Chicago Department of Aviation, which runs O'Hare and Midway, ultimately has little power.

"The FAA and the pilot in command of each aircraft have sole jurisdiction over runaway use," Moyer said. "Only the FAA has authority and enforcement over these issues."

Every quarter, Moyer said, the Department of Aviation contacts the top three noise complainants. And the agency responds within a few days to those who send comments and inquiries through the department's system.

"Residents are pretty happy just to get a call back," Moyer said. "That's mainly what they're looking for – to hear someone and talk to someone and understand, 'Why my house?'"

City Manager Jim Grabowski said it was good to hear that airlines are held accountable.

"It is always about safety first. You can't argue with that," he said. "The pilot and FAA have final control over whatever runway they choose to use."

Elmhurst has long belonged to the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission. Ward 4 Alderman Mike Baker is the city's representative.