Issue date: April 08, 1998
By JENNIFER DESAI
Midpeninsula residents disturbed by airport noise may rest a little easier starting April 15, when the Federal Aviation Administration expands the hours jets are required to fly at a higher altitude over a navigational device in Woodside.
In an effort to reduce aircraft noise over the Peninsula, the FAA has agreed to require planes to fly 1,000 feet higher over the Woodside marker between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., said Chuck Weinum, assistant manager of operations at the FAA's Western Pacific Region. The requirement would affect primarily Pacific arrivals to San Francisco International Airport between those hours; the procedure had been in effect between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., affecting a handful of flights. The extended hours should affect many more aircraft operations, Mr. Weinum said.
Additionally, the airport has funded a study which confirms that approaches to the airport could be "offset" by as much as 3 degrees during poorer weather without interfering with the higher altitude pattern at Woodside, or shifting the noise of overflights to other communities.
A difference of 3 degrees might not sound like much of a change. But the offset flight plan would move arrivals more than 1,525 feet farther out over San Francisco Bay from Foster City, resulting in further noise relief for Midpeninsula communities, Mr. Weinum said.
New electronic equipment would have to be installed at SFO to permit the offset flight plan; however, Airport Director John Martin expressed his support of the idea and committed the airport to making the request to federal authorities for the equipment at an April 1 Airport/Community Roundtable meeting.
"We're very happy that John Martin is participating in the talks now," said Atherton resident Jack Gottman of Uproar, a citizens' group for the reduction of commercial aircraft noise. "We don't know that the altitude change will either eliminate or reduce noise over the Peninsula. But we're pleased and cautious."
Atherton Councilman Bob Huber was less pleased and more cautious. "Residents need convincing data that there will indeed be a difference" if plans are implemented, he said.
Jean Rice, an Atherton resident and spokesperson from Uproar, is one such resident. "Here in Atherton, we haven't noticed any alleviation" in airport noise when flight patterns were raised from 6,000 to 7,000 feet under the present model. "As far as people I've talked to, there's no noticeable difference."
On Tuesday, April 14, Uproar will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room of the Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Guest speakers from Oakland Citizens Group will address the meeting, which is open to the public.
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