Point Reyes Light - August 16, 2001
Jet-noise talk before Supes
By Gregory Foley
County supervisors at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, will hear a presentation from Federal Aviation Administration representatives about the history and trends of commercial aircraft flights over the county since 1993.
The meeting is part of the county’s Airspace and Overflight Issues Work Program, which was adopted to help reduce the noise of commercial flights over residential areas and parklands such as the Point Reyes National Seashore. Representatives for Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and the National Seashore will attend.
Tim Haddad, environmental coordinator for the Marin Community Development Agency, noted this week that the presentation will use historical air traffic control data to explain:
• What changes have occurred since 1993 in commercial flights over Marin.
• What altitude and flight path commercial jets are using when passing over or near the county.
• Whether pilots are complying with route changes recently designated by the FAA to reduce noise over Marin, particularly banning flights heading north from San Francisco from taking a long-used nighttime shortcut over Stinson Beach and Bolinas.
The data – which has been sought by county officials since last year when numerous residents started to complain about airliner noise – will include displays of all aircraft that have flown in the vicinity of Marin on both standard and previously unpublished air traffic routes, Haddad added.
A Community Development Agency staff report on the data and the FAA presentation will be available at the meeting. Public testimony will not be heard by supervisors but interested parties can attend.