Dear Friends,
The unprecedented situation for our region and the world since we last communicated on March 10 is testing citizens and institutions. We hope that things will improve soon for all. Stay well and safe.
The pandemic has also brought unexpected changes in our skies. Due to the capacity reductions in air travel, the duration of quiet moments in our neighborhoods are noticeable - we can open our windows again and take in what also appears to be fresher air. When the loud jet noise intrusions from SFO, SJC and OAK still happen however, we know the problem is unresolved.
Looking ahead - we have a plan for 2020:
We’ve identified some focus areas to help achieve our highest priorities: finding alternatives to concentration; raising altitudes; and eliminating night time jet noise. When we mobilize for local, state, and federal action it will be to shine light on the following:
- CATEX: FAA’s Catex must stop - as long as the FAA takes actions that conceal impacts and repercussions from airspace changes, it defies law, basic rights and breaches the public trust.
- METROPLEX: Bay Area airports are uncoordinated - with oversight largely from local political entities, which don’t challenge FAA’s use of Catex with potentially serious harm caused to the public.
- NOISE: Regular noise monitoring and measurements are basic and essential to manage noise.
- LEADERSHIP: We need new Technical and Social Management Teams to do Metroplex re-design. FAA, elected officials, airlines, airports, aviation industry leaders, community leaders all have a role but the models for collaboration and communication need improvement.
The 2020 ANE Aviation Noise and Emissions Symposium:
The gathering in San Diego happened before the pandemic guidelines, fortunately without incident. We are very appreciative for the strong Bay Area delegation, County and City officials from both Santa Clara and San Mateo counties; also researchers, consultants, and activists. It was an excellent event which emphasized a global view of how international aviation is implementing GPS technology and redesigning airspace accordingly. The breadth of topics and presentations was impressive, and we also had the benefit of our six years of grassroots advocacy about Nextgen to bring perspective to the discussions. We will be sharing more details about the presentations but here we highlight what we learned about how the UK, Australia, and EU are implementing airspace design with GPS.
All have similar challenges - airports with expansion plans under way; the fact that air traffic is not going away, and a mix of technical, operational, and societal considerations to take into account for airspace design.
All but the US have adopted noise guidelines and metrics that, in addition to annoyance, consider health and quality of life - with design principles to guide airspace design.
One draft example
is from Australia
where diverse noise metrics have been available for decades.
Other countries have invited the public to participate in "pre-planning" efforts that employ best science practices and tools to look at design options as well as communicating with stakeholders.
Heathrow has a department that develops videos, and other communication tools to involve the public in airspace design. The equivalent of NEPA processes in the UK and Europe happen
after
meaningful public processes have taken place.
We believe we can create new, different and better processes in the US if we bring the right talent together including FAA, airlines, airports and cities. As we support efforts to achieve our goals, we are drawing on the leadership and experience of residents with multi-stakeholder, multi-discipline
engineering projects; we welcome new ideas and volunteers to join us in this endeavor. Our calls to action - for all four focus areas - will continue to appeal to regional officials who have much within their power to effect change, while we also continue working with colleagues around the country on our mutual concerns for future legislation.
One other note for federal action. Sky Posse joined aviation-focused grassroots groups around the country to lobby Congress on the priorities that we would like to see airlines consider as our tax dollars once again go to rescue them. See
March 23 letter to Representative Eshoo
about night time curfews, ending unnecessary concentration of traffic, and retrofits. While many planes are parked during the pandemic, all
retrofits
could be installed for, what one of our colleagues points out, the cost of one first-class seat per plane.
Last but not least, we are closely watching the challenges to the Denver Metroplex Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) signed by FAA on January 24. Colorado Public Radio
reports
that “Gilpin County, the Centennial Airport, the city of Greenwood Village, and Broomfield-based Mountain Aviation
filed a petition
with the U.S Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., asking the court to review the FAA’s plans.” Petitioners have until April 23 to file the concerns to be raised in the case, which we expect will be drawn from the comments submitted to the EA in this
letter from Centennial Airport
, a very worthwhile read.
Ultimately, everyone wants the safest and environmentally conscious system and getting there will take working together!
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SPREAD THE WORD
Ask neighbors to JOIN OUR CALLS TO ACTION and to get updates by sending "SUBSCRIBE" to info@skypossepaloalto.org
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SHARE THE
QUIET NIGHTS
PETITION
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- Assess alternative waypoints to reduce concentration and "Fly at Higher Altitudes!"
- Eliminate low altitude night flights
- Need new Technical and Social Management Teams to do Metroplex re-design.
Eliminating low altitude night traffic should be the easiest task for FAA because
there is no traffic congestion at night.
Assessments of alternatives using the right
tools
is also long overdue.
New concerns have also developed in the six years since Nextgen began.
As we go forward, much of what we need is within the power of local and regional officials to help accomplish.
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MOST IMPORTANT
Report intrusive jet noise
!
The number of reporters matters (enlist neighbors who are bothered by intrusive jet noise to report!)
Use any of these methods:
SFO PHONE
650.821.4736
/Toll free
877.206.8290
.
ONLINE:
Complaint Option with IFTTT App
-
You can make
your own noise complaint button with smart phone app
see instructions here
. The app sends the complaints to
sfo.noise@flysfo.com
(or the noise office email address of the airport of your choice) with the message body including name, address, time and noise type. You may also want to try
programmable button
with it.
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Thank you!
Sky Posse Palo Alto
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