The Chicago Department of Aviation is currently testing new runway usage patterns during overnight hours at O'Hare International Airport. By rotating usage of various runways during the less busy overnight hours, CDA officials intend to spread the impact of nighttime airplane noise over more communities and make such impact more infrequent, rather than have a few select areas receive the entirety of the noise impact on a consistent basis.
As a result of this runway rotation, Niles residents may experience increased nighttime aircraft noise at times, while experiencing less aircraft noise during other times where runway configurations do not carry air traffic over the Village.
UPDATE: Fifty percent of the Runway Rotation Test has been completed, and the Chicago Department of Aviation and O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission request at this time that residents take the survey at http://www.airportprojects.net/flyquiettest/schedule/ to provide feedback. This is a separate survey from the regular noise complaint hotline, and will serve as one component to measure if the runway rotation test was a successful aircraft noise abatement program.
Residents also can always log complaints about specific O'Hare Airport aircraft noise incidents by calling 800-435-9569 or visiting http://www.flychicago.com/ordnoise. The website also includes more information about the Fly Quiet program, including the schedule for its weekly runway rotations.