by Frank Schroth
The principal issue discussed at last night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting was the proposed change to the use of Logan’s runway 33L which will increase flights over Milton and neighboring communities. A special citizens speak was set aside for the issue The first person to speak was State Senator Joyce.
Senator Joyce made two essential points: one was his severe disappointment with the FAA and Massport for failing to inform elected officials of a significant change that would affect the people they were elected to represent (“I was livid.”) and second, upon careful analysis and review it appears that the impact of the change will be “slight.” There will be an increase in flights but they will be at a higher altitude as the fly over (12,000 ft vs 10,000ft). Senator Joyce also expressed concerns about the short window of opportunity for the public to comment. The FAA has extended this. Joyce had convened a meeting at the state house that included representatives from Congressmen Capuano and Lynch’s office as well as Massport officials. The meeting “calmed my fears and concerns,” said Joyce.
Massport representatives attended the meeting. Flavio Leo, Deputy Director Aviation Planning and Strategy, and Nancy Donohue, Manager of Government Affairs. Mr. Leo read prepared statements from both Massport and the FAA. Key was the decision by hte FAA to extend the public comment period to March 15 and a re-evaluation of the data. The data was at the heart of the issue. Some residents who spoke questioned the accuracy and completeness of the data.
The FAA has reported, as Joyce stated, the flights are increased but at a higher altitude hence the net effect of increased noise is minimal. Laurie Kennedy, daughter of Judy Kennedy the volunteer Milton liaison with the FAA who abruptly resigned prior to this meeting as reported in the Milton Times, gave a presentation and questioned why there were no dots indicating the increase in traffic. Mr. Leo explained that the dots (she was referring to illustration 1-4 of the FAA report) reflected noise and since the increase traffic did not result in increased noise there were no additional dots. Some of the public did not trust the data.
Cindy Christiansen, a Milton resident and statistician, reviewed the data. She noted that her problem with the data was that the DNL (Day Night Average Sound Level) as measured in the FAA report was “an average of an average of an average.” She gave an analogy to illustrate why this is problematic. If your feet are in a fire and your head is in a refrigerator what is your average temperature? The measure does not account for the variation. She also identified an error in the report that indicated no one was living on Barberry Lane. There are people living there. If there is one error are there more?
Mr. Leo fielded as many questions as completely as he could. However, as he noted, Massport is responsible for everything at the airport except a moving aircraft. Once an aircraft is moving, where it goes, and how it gets there is the responsibility of the FAA. One resident to speak, Mr. Yovino, pointed out that it should be the FAA answering the questions. Selectman Keohane expressed disappointment that no one from the FAA was present. The other selectmen agreed. An invitation will be extended for a future meeting. At issue is the veracity of the data. Many residents who spoke complained about the existing conditions and the fear that more planes only means more noise.
Representative Timilty was also present. He did not speak but did identify his opposition to the FAA plan which can be found here.
Please let me know of a future meeting on this subject. I could not attend last night but I already emailed the Ted English at FAA. Strongly against this. I live over by curry college 138. Thanks, krista
Best to contact the Selectmen and tell them you want another meeting.
If they do not have a representative from the FAA however the meeting is not worth having.
The representative from MassPort who spoke at last night’s meeting is a nice fellow but as he told the board of Selectmen MassPort has no authority to do anything once a plane leave Logan’s runways.
The responsibility then becomes the sole responsibility of the FAA.
So, why was he there?
Again, the FAA was not the spokesman at last night’s meeting they passed the buck to MassPort.
As a past member of Milton’s Airplane Noise Committee I can tell you that is standard practice for the FAA. They duck facing the public at all costs unless forced to by an air disaster or a
” Near Miss”- the FAA term – of two airplanes nearly colliding in the air. [ The correct term should be "Near Hit". If it were a
" Near Miss" that would mean they actually collided.]
Still, we have to thank Senator Brian Joyce for getting the FAA to extend the comment period one month to March 15 instead of their orginal deadline of February 15.
I do not hold out much hope that we will be able to stop the use of Runway 33 L over Milton.
We all want safe flying but all we are asking the FAA is that Milton not be a dumping ground for air traffic of both arrivals and departure.
Milton is getting more than its fair share of airplane noise, airplane pollution and the potential of an airplane disaster over Milton.