The Naples Airport Authority’s Noise Compatibility Committee (NCC) during its November meeting elected Chris Auron as chair and Chuck Berkebile as vice chair for 2025-26.
A Naples resident since 2011, Auron is an accomplished pilot and holds the highest certification as an aircraft mechanic. His career has focused on innovative software development, most recently in health-related data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Auron served in the United States Air Force for 10 years and later in the Arizona Army National Guard. He was originally appointed to the NCC in March 2019 and reappointed for another four-year term in 2023. He represents the geographic area northwest of the airport. From 2021 through 2024, he held the vice chair, then chair positions on the NCC.
Appointed to the NCC earlier this year, Berkebile is the NCC’s active pilot representative. With more than 35 years of aviation experience, he’s currently with American Airlines, piloting 787s, and has operated out of noise-sensitive airports including London Heathrow and Orange County, Calif.
Berkebile has also been a flight instructor and cargo pilot. He’s a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
The NCC is composed of nine citizen volunteers who help monitor the impact of aircraft noise and make recommendations about noise-mitigation procedures for consideration by the City of Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. The members serve as volunteer representatives of the Collier County Board of Commissioners, Naples City Council, general aviation pilots and six geographic areas surrounding the airport.
The NAA and NCC launched the “Please Fly Safe Fly Quiet” campaign in 2012 to encourage pilots and aircraft operators to do all they can to minimize aircraft noise. The campaign encourages pilots to observe the airport’s recommended 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours. The campaign currently has more than 98.6% compliance.
During the meeting, the NCC also adopted its calendar for 2026 which includes meetings on Feb. 26, May 7 and Nov. 5, with a workshop meeting planned for March 26.
About Naples Airport
The Naples Airport is a vital community asset that provides convenient access to the City of Naples and Collier County for residents and visitors alike. The airport is also home to critical public services, including the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Collier Mosquito Control, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and fire/ambulance services. It also serves as a staging hub for recovery operations during emergencies. The airport’s tenants include private and corporate aviation, air charter, aircraft maintenance and repair services, car rental brands and flight schools. Naples Airport Authority (NAA), an independent government agency that operates Naples Airport, receives no local tax dollars; it is primarily funded through fuel sales, hangar rentals and other related services. The Florida Department of Transportation has estimated Naples Airport’s annual economic impact at $781 million. The NAA strives to balance the needs of the aviation community and residents’ quality of life through a variety of initiatives, including its Fly Safe Fly Quiet program. Visit FlyNaples.com for more information.
