News release from BOS Fair Skies Coalition
Milton Committee Against Aviation Impact (MCAAI) has changed its name to BOS Fair Skies Coalition to encourage even more communities that are impacted by Logan Airport’s plane pollution and noise to get their concerns heard and seek solutions with the FAA and Massport to reduce plane traffic.
The Milton Chapter of BOS Fair Skies Coalition was formed by residents and surrounding communities to ensure people have a voice in airport issues and reduce the impact levels of airplane pollution and noise in numerous neighborhoods. Other towns and cities are welcomed to join the coalition to maximize and efforts and resources.
Just as the name suggests, the group is looking for a fair share of plane traffic, the town has over twice its share of arrivals and low flying jets from two concentrated departure paths. In the last 12 months (8/13-7/14) nearly 50,000 low flying plane arrivals and over 8,000 departures flew over Milton. The majority of low flying planes flew over the same neighborhoods, schools and parks. This equates to one low flying jet every 10 minutes of every hour of every day and night.
BOS Fair Skies has joined MSP (Minneapolis) Fair Skies Coalition, an organization that is collaborating with communities across the country that are affected by plane pollution and noise. The two group’s goal is to include hundreds of other groups working around the country on this issue.
“Along with our new partner and name, the group has re-launched its website and developed a comprehensive report that outlines the health and noise issues that are affecting thousands of residents in Milton and beyond,” said Sheryl Fleitman co-chair of BOS Fair Skies Boston. “The report highlights years’ worth of research including peer-reviewed studies and statistics from Massport.”
For many who are frustrated by the complexity of the issue, the website and report serves as a resource and education tool. The following are some highlights of the report:
- Per Massport, from 2009 through July 2014 report over 300,000 low flying jet arrivals over Milton. If spread out evenly over this 5 ½ year period, it would mean an arrival every 10 minutes of every hour of every day and night. This equates to 37% of all arrivals to Logan.
- This figure doesn’t include departures or prop plane traffic
- Per Massport, Milton experiences an average of 4,489 arrivals per month over the last 67 months. Three out of 4 of the months had more than 3,000 arrivals per month.
“The nearly 60,000 flights in the last year on four flight path are occurring nearly 24/7 – it’s simply not healthy,” said Sheryl. “Science states that toxic plane particulates, such as known carcinogens benzene and formaldehyde, fall toward the ground from planes at 3,000 feet and under. The arriving planes fly over residents are at altitudes of 1,200 to 3,000 feet.”
BOS Fair Skies Coalition is collaborating with the recently appointed Milton’s Town Committee which is focused on finding solutions to plane pollution and noise along with passionate politicians at local, state, and federal levels.
For more information, visit www.bosfairskies.com and the organization’s Facebook page.
I recently spent a total of 26 days in the new Shapiro Cardiac Building at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where I had a 180 +degree view of the local area. I was also able to see east to over JP, Dorchester and south to Milton. I also had a clear view over Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Newton and as far on the horizon to the TV lighted towers in Needham.
I continually saw planes approaching from the South and SW over Milton, but in 26 days, saw only TWO airplanes in the far distance to the west where they made wide swaths to approach Logan from the north. I predict that no complaints will be heard from those communities that enjoy no flight paths. And the question should be “why are flight so restricted from those communities?”
Simple answer. The politicians with the power to change things don’t live on the south shore and they are all beholden to MassPort for plum jobs.
Judy, I hope you’re well.
Judy,
That is because the two longest and most active runways run parallel to Milton/Dorchester/JP(South) and Lynn/Revere etc (North), but perpendicular to Brookline/Newton etc.
Rick
The longest runway at Logan runs NW to SE (runway15R/33L). It has the same bells and whistles as the 2nd longest runway that runs NE to SW (4R/22L). 4R is the one that sends jet arrivals over Milton (along with the shorter runway 4L). Here are some facts from Massport. https://www.massport.com/environment/environmental-reporting/noise-abatement/
Columns:
(1) Runway for arrivals at Logan
(2) Wind direction for use
(3) # arrivals (Sep 2013 thru Aug 2014)
(4) % of arrivals (Sep 2013 thru Aug 2014)
(5) typical wind direction at Logan
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
4R NE 41,311 30.2% 18%
22L SW 34,832 25.5% 28%
15R SE 2,070 1.5% 17%
33L NW 24,767 18.1% 37%
Here is the data Ms. Christiansen’s refers to reformatted as a table. (Apologies for difficulty imposed for formatting tables).
Cindy,
That is great information, very interesting.
Frank, thanks for taking the time to make the table.
Rick