2020 ANNUAL NOISE MANAGEMENT REPORT Message on Operations and Noise Management at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport What a difference a year can make. to maintain the airport and airfield residence as much as possible. However, in reality, the change to Billy in order to provide service to Ornge With people home more, noise issues Bishop Toronto City Airport didn’t take medevac, which has served an became more noticeable for some a year – the change came overnight essential role during this pandemic residents. Many airports in Canada with the emergence of a global from day one. The airport also remains have experienced a similar shift in pandemic and the resulting seismic open for General Aviation (GA) clients, complaints during this timeframe. disruption and disabling of airline the flight schools, as well as smaller service around the world. carriers such as Cameron Air and Against this backdrop I can report FlyGTA. that the noise office received For our part, our resident airlines 333 complaints in 2020, which is down – Porter Airlines and Air Canada What also remains is our commitment from 542 complaints in 2019. While – made the unprecedented but prudent to working with the community to complaints related to aircraft activity decision in March 2020 to temporarily maintain balance in our operations were down, complaints specific to the suspend air carrier service at and conduct our business in a way ferry were up in 2020. We are pleased Billy Bishop Airport until the that reflects a commitment to to confirm that despite the current conditions were appropriate to sustainability, an emphasis on financial hardships being experienced resume service. As I write this in community initiatives, and an by Billy Bishop Airport – and every February 2021, these airlines are imperative to communicate and airport in Canada and around the still in a holding pattern awaiting a report with transparency. world – PortsToronto has chosen to meaningful reduction in infection continue work on the conversion of numbers that will provide for a In an example of the latter, the 2020 the Marilyn Bell I passenger ferry to lessening of government restrictions Noise Report is now before you to electric power. This conversion will be and the re-emergence of passenger report on our efforts to manage noise complete in 2021 and will effectively demand for air travel. We are confident and introduce improvements to eliminate noise and air emissions from that conditions will improve and that mitigate operational impacts. The the ferry operation. our carriers will restart at Billy Bishop report also details the number and Airport this spring/summer, and nature of complaints received in 2020. Although overall community anxiously await a return of passengers complaints were down in 2020, there and a resumption of the world-class With commercial airline activity were two areas that experienced service that has won us awards and suspended in March 2020, our increases: Wards Island logged has given our staff, stakeholders and noise profile is different this year 41 complaints in 2020, which is up community a point of pride and and reflects a unique reality of 2020. from 35 in 2019; and Mimico had one purpose for so many years. Interestingly, while commercial complaint in 2020, whereas this area activity was mostly suspended had zero complaints the year prior. But as different as the airport is during 2020, many residents now All other complaints are down by right now, it also remains the same found themselves at home with neighbourhood. in many respects. The PortsToronto/ governments encouraging people Billy Bishop Airport team continues to stay home and work from their Message on Operations and Noise Management at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (continued) The increase in complaints for Wards We are thrilled with the results of In the meantime, the Billy Bishop Island came from General Aviation this initiative that will provide new Airport team will continue to maintain and flight school activity. With many and enhanced public space, better the airport for the businesses that activities restricted in 2020, General access for the airport and the continue to operate, including Ornge Aviation was still permitted and Billy neighbouring TDSB Waterfront School, medevac which is based at our Bishop Airport and many GA airports and a new promenade and trees. airport and has been tasked with experienced an increase in the number I would encourage you to read more the important role of distributing of GA movements in the year. This about this project on pages 7 and 10. vaccines to northern communities in increased activity, combined with an initiative dubbed Operation Remote people spending more time at home, I am also pleased to report that Immunity. was likely a primary driver for the despite the COVID-19 pandemic increase in complaints over Wards and the lockdowns that prevented We will also continue work on the Island. gatherings, the Community Liaison electric conversion of the Marilyn Bell I Committee (CLC) met as scheduled with a view to having this newly The Billy Bishop Airport team with the first of four meetings being modified vessel in service in 2021 continues to work with our individual held in person, and the remaining (pg. 8); will continue to work with the pilots and businesses to adhere to our three meetings happening online via community through CLC meetings; good neighbour policies specific to the ZOOM. The Noise Sub-Committee also share the results of our Ground Noise Toronto Islands and other community met in person and online for a total of Study (pg. 6); and of course welcome areas. The vast majority of pilots three meetings. the restart of our commercial airlines follow our published policy and are when the time is right. complying with this framework. We Although we are always pleased when continue to work with all involved to we can report a decrease in noise May the months ahead continue to ensure awareness of the expectations complaints, the circumstances that keep everyone safe and healthy and we for the community on overflights and brought about this reduction has look forward to better times in 2021. compliance for our operators. been linked to a detrimental decline in aviation overall, including Our noise office also received Billy Bishop Airport. The year 2020 complaints linked to construction has been challenging for many of activities associated with the us and we are all looking forward to Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan sunnier skies in 2021 and beyond with (BQNP) being implemented by the a return to travel when the time is City of Toronto in partnership with right. When that time comes we will Gene Cabral PortsToronto. This activity was welcome back our passengers with a Executive Vice President, specific to the BQNP and is now Safe Travels Program that will ensure PortsToronto and Billy Bishop complete in terms of the work that everyone’s experience is positive Toronto City Airport required for PortsToronto property. and safe. Other By the numbers Ferry Related Scheduled Uncorrelated Commercial COMPLAINTS Mainland Military Engine Related BY ACTIVITY Medevac Run-Up 2020 Helicopters General Construction Related Aircraft Related COMPLAINTS OF AIRCRAFT FIVE YEAR ANNUAL COMPARISON OPERATIONS OF NOISE COMPLAINTS BY TYPE 2020 General Aviation 542 333 236 271 228 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 MONTHLY COMPARISON OF NOISE NOISE COMPLAINT TOTAL 2019 COMPLAINTS 2019 AND 2020 NOISE COMPLAINT TOTAL 2020 100 LOWEST MONTH 90 FOR COMPLAINTS: DECEMBER 2020 80 HIGHEST MONTH 70 FOR COMPLAINTS: SEPTEMBER 2020 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Noise Noise Monitor Noise-Sub Management Terminals Committee Office Noise Monitoring Terminals (NMTs) A Noise Management Sub-Committee are the foundation of the airport’s noise of the Community Liaison Committee Part of our commitment to our noise monitoring system and provide ongoing (CLC) was formed in late 2017 to further management program includes noise-level data to the airport’s Noise research, understand and address noise dedicated staff in our Noise Management Management Office. This data is then impacts from airport operations. The Office who collect, analyze and respond used in long-term noise mitigation Noise Sub-Committee consists of four to noise complaints and monitor daily planning and in responding to noise community members, two staff members operations. Staff at the office use complaints from the surrounding from PortsToronto, one staff member Vortex, a customizable tracking and community. from the City of Toronto and a facilitator logging software platform, designed from Lura Consulting. specifically for the needs of an airport As part of our continuing efforts to environment, to track, document and ensure improvements between The committee has two co-chairs, respond to noise complaints. operations at Billy Bishop Toronto City one from the community and one from Airport and the surrounding community, PortsToronto. The committee met three A response time policy has been in place PortsToronto currently operates four times in 2020. at the Noise Management Office since NMTs: 2011, and mandates a response time of five business days. The economic impacts • One located on the Toronto Police of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting Marine Unit building; WebTrak staffing changes at the airport led to • One located at Toronto Fire Station slower response rates in 2020. In 2020, 335 on the Toronto Islands; 98.5% per cent of all noise complaints We continue to offer free access to were responded to within five business • One currently installed on the Webtrak, which enables anyone with days. mainland ferry terminal to be a computer, smartphone or tablet to relocated to a building in the gather information on any aircraft community in 2021; and activity they may hear overhead.