MAC Noise Hotline

Metropolitan Airport Commission's Noise Hotline

If you have questions or concerns about airport noise, please contact the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Hotline at: 612-726-9411.  Electronic Noise Complaints can also be submitted to the MAC.

What happens when you file an Aircraft Noise Complaint with the MAC

The MAC Noise Program Office maintains a 24-hour noise complaint and information hotline. You can file an aircraft noise complaint through the MAC website at www.macnoise.com or by calling the hotline at 612-726-9411. Complaints can be also be received via U.S. mail, email, fax, or in-person. MAC staff responds to call back requests within three (3) business days. A complaint is logged anytime a person specifically provides the following: 

  • Specific valid address (no P.O. boxes) 
  • Date and time of the event 
  • Annoyance descriptor (i.e. excessive noise, frequency, early/late)

Complaints for dates during a particular month must be logged/called in by or before the 5th day of the following month. For example, a complaint for April 2005 would need to be logged or called in by May 5th, 2005. You can leave multiple noise complaints in one phone message; however, specific dates and time and annoyance descriptors have to be indicated in order for the complaint to be recognized. Due to the nature of the reporting system general date, timeframes, and overall dissatisfaction with aircraft noise cannot be logged or reported. The system is not set up to take complaints about general annoyance with aircraft flying overhead or the airport. So please be specific when filing a complaint so that it is logged into the system! Aircraft noise complaint data is published monthly in the Technical Advisor’s Report (pages 1 and 2) which can be found by visiting, www.macnoise.com under Tools & Reports.

It is also important to remember that MAC staff does not have control of air traffic operations or direct aircrafts in flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the sole authority in determining where aircraft will fly and how the airspace around the airport is used. Factors that affect airport operations and how an airport may operate on any given day are: 

  • Wind and weather; 
  • Number of arrivals and departures; 
  • Time of day; 
  • Construction activity; and 
  • Airspace safety.

Runway use decisions are made solely upon standard air traffic control procedures that do include several noise abatement procedures. Aircraft noise complaints are not considered when making these decisions; however, they are used in conjunction with operational data to corroborate specific events or to identify possible operational trends. This allows for decisions to be made as to whether additional noise abatement procedures are needed at the airport.