Plane plan needs rerouting
I have been reading the various articles with regard to airport noise over the past month, just finished reading the latest one in the Lake Wylie Pilot dated June 12 and have a few comments I would like to make.
It’s obvious when looking at the diagram titled, “Flight Paths May 13 2012” that efforts to relieve the noise for north and south Charlotte residents (RNAV) comes at the expense of Lake Wylie neighborhoods, which is unfair.
It’s a solid line of flights heading directly towards that area! If that’s the answer, it’s time for Lake Wylie residents to obtain legal council or at a minimum join the Fair Air Charlotte group to protect their interests, as well. RNAV is not the answer and needs to be rescinded immediately, it’s simply not fair for the people to the east and west of the airport!
I would also like to respond to Jim Schultheis’s comments with regard to air traffic noise in the Lake Wylie area dated May 1. You’re comparing the sound of airplanes with lawn mowers? I wonder how well you would accept your neighbors cutting their grass starting at 6 in the morning and continuing through midnight, seven days a week.
Many of us would like the option of leaving our windows open at night, but we don’t. Also, I’ve never had to raise my voice to talk over the song of a mockingbird, but have had to when thousands of pounds of thrust are flying overhead while outside on my deck? Most people did not grow up on or near an Air Force base.
As for Fred Freiberger’s article about how flight patterns have changed, he fails to mention the air traffic control’s implementation of RNAV back in June of 2010, which forces flights to fly at much lower altitudes, therefore increasing noise levels for thousands of Charlotte-area residents eight to 25 miles from the airport 18 hours a day, seven days a week – as referenced in the executive summary statement of Charlotte’s RNAV Airport Noise Issue dated May 20, 2011.
The bottom line is, the airport and air traffic is increasing, but Charlotte is ever growing, as well. That means new housing developments, (people can’t live underground) however, there have been no attempts made for addressing aircraft noise and how it affects neighborhood residents.
There is such a thing as noise pollution. Over the years, manufacturing plants have had to invest thousands of dollars to adhere to regulations with regard to air pollution (VOC’s) and upgrade water treatment systems, etc., but apparently airports get a free ride on noise pollution taking the position, we were here first, so just deal with it.
If someone has a social event with music playing into the night, neighbors can report the incident and they will be contacted to turn off the music. There have been news reports on neighborhood complaints of rock bands playing late at night at local establishments and new ordinances exacted to control this noise as a result.
‘Why is aircraft noise any different, especially since it can go on for 18 hours a day, seven days a week?
It’s my understanding that there are noise abatement programs available for homeowners, whereby they can obtain funds for soundproofing their homes but that’s currently limited to a vicinity within two miles of the airport.
Perhaps that needs to be expanded to eight to 10 miles of the airport. RNAV needs to be rescinded to allow planes to fly higher and reduce noise as they did prior to June 2010. Maybe flight curfews need to be implemented.
This has become a serious issue for Charlotte-area residents and will continue to get worse as traffic increases, including future plans for cargo planes that will be taking off and landing at all hours of the night.
Our community leaders need to take some action that will result in an amicable resolution for everyone. It affects not only our quality of life but property values, as well.
WILLIAM SMITH, Lake Wylie
Thanks, to a good Samaritan
A tip of the cap to Chuck Thomas of Clover.
Thomas found my son’s wallet after he dropped it while pumping gas in Lake Wylie (coincidentally, not far from Good Samaritan Church).
Thomas reached me through a phone number on a check in the wallet, and met me to return it. He refused a modest reward, but instead accepted an appreciative handshake and said it was a good example to his own son and the right thing to do.
Thank you, Chuck Thomas.
JIM RAMSEY, Lake Wylie
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