A new policy to improve runway safety at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has neighbors upset about the potential for more noise. They're also asking why they haven't known about it before now.

        Since December, airlines have been allowed to use the four ends of the airport's two north-south runways to conduct full engine “run-ups” — when mechanics test jet engines at up to double the normal speed for several minutes.

        They are required both for maintenance and to fulfill federal regulations, which require engines to be tested for safety.

        Airport officials say initial impact has been minimal since airlines have hardly used the runways for the procedure.

        It's hard to quantify how much noise a run-up generates because of the differences between planes, as well as the duration and extent of run-ups.

        But by comparison, a Boeing 747 taking off 2 miles away generates 100 decibels, about the same as being inside a subway train. And while run-ups may be shorter in duration than takeoffs, they are generally louder.

        Residents around the airport, especially in western Hamilton County, say they have noticed.

        “It has definitely gotten worse since the winter,” said Jennifer Palanci, 41, a nurse from East Price Hill. “Now, they start at 5 a.m. and my lampshade shakes. I don't know if it's from the planes taking off or the engines (being tested), but it's become an issue for me.”

        Previously, run-ups were allowed only on the western and southwestern ends of the airport.

        Airport officials say the change was made to minimize taxiing by airline mechanics to “hold pads,” where run-ups are conducted.

        They hope the change will reduce runway “incursions,” or when a plane that is landing or taking off comes too close to an object, person or plane already on the ground.

        “We don't want to have to make these guys taxi a long way or across long runways,” said Chad Everett, the airport's deputy director of operations.

        Last year, for the first time, the local airport was placed on the list of facilities with four or more incursions in the previous calendar year.

        There was another incident last month, keeping Cincinnation the list.

        Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, who lives in Delhi Township, is upset that the policy was changed with no public input, and blames the airport for using safety as a way to get away with increasing noise.

        “It's just indicative of the arrogance over there that they can run anything through and make us suffer for it,” said Mr. Rhodes, who has written several Ohio congressmen asking for help.

        But airport noise abatement manager Barb Schempf said that only two of the airport's tenants use bigger, noisier jets and conduct run-ups regularly — Delta Air Lines and DHL.

        She said Delta conducts about five run-ups every 24 hours, but mainly uses the space by its own maintenance hangar. Delta has used the end of a runway twice at the most since the new policy was put in place Dec. 4, Ms. Schempf said.

        DHL conducts three or four run-ups weekly, Ms. Schempf said, adding that that company could not recall using the end of a runway since December.

        Still, Walter Beigel, a real estate agent from Bridgetown, said that noise as a whole is up.

        And he said he was surprised that the run-ups were being allowed closer to his house with no notice, especially considering that the airport is seeking public and federal approval for a new north-south runway.

        “I would think that communication at this time would be very important, and there is a lot of tension about this in this neighborhood,” Mr. Beigel said.

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