Others have undergone soundproofing. Some homes qualify for a program that pays owners for lost property value when they sell privately. Some have been bought by the airport and resold to willing buyers. These steps have been taken without a great deal of acrimony despite a few lawsuits filed and settled over the years because the airport authority in Indianapolis for the most part has been fair and open with nearby residents. It has set clear guidelines for corrective action in cases of noise problems.
Residents know which houses qualify for buyouts, which for soundproofing, and so on.
In some instances, if soundproofing isn t effective, the airport offers to purchase the home. Residents are represented on the airport board, and new noise assessments are made periodically in consultation with citizens groups. There seems to be a cooperative, rather than adversarial, relationship between the airport and surrounding communities. That is a posture that the Piedmont Triad International Airport Authority should work very hard to attain. The nature of any airport is such that it will create inconvenience for some as it provides benefits for many.