Northern Hills Homeowner's Association

Testing time -- jets may seem quieter for 2 days

Feb 09, 2001

Noise-level study set for next week at airport; views of residents in nearby neighborhoods are mixed; City Council and FAA approval
still needed before any changes are made.
By James Coburn
Northside Recorder Managing Editor

Neighborhoods around San Antonio International airport may be quieter next week when jets make steep takeoffs as part of a new noise study.
The $118,000 city-funded study to compare noise levels between normal and steep takeoffs during the winter, spring and summer was prompted by safety concerns over a proposal to make the northeast runway the preferred takeoff area, officials said.
Jerry Rankin, in charge of the city's Airport Noise Mitigation Office, said six stationary and two roving decibel meters will monitoring noise levels in neighborhoods around the airport Monday through Friday.
Rankin said normal takeoffs are scheduled Monday and Tuesday; full-thrust takeoffs to 800 to 1,000 feet above the ground Wednesday and Thursday; and normal takeoffs again Feb. 2.
"I'm prepared to praise the testing of these different departure profiles," said Jerry W. Moulder, who lives southeast of the airport in the Northwood subdivision. A majority of the takeoffs are over Oak Park and Northwood homes into the prevailing wind from the southeast.
"I'm delighted that they're going to do the tests," said Moulder, who noted he has attended airport committee meetings for two years. "I hope there can be some reduction in the decibel level from these tests."
Also expressing approval of the testing was Michael Gallagher, president of the Northern Hills Homeowners Association. Fifty-eight Northern Hills residents presented adverse comments during an October public hearing on airport noise mitigation recommendations that included a proposal to change takeoff patterns.
That proposal, which would take two or three years to implement, would have a majority of aircraft lift off in a northeasterly direction and make two 15-degree turns to climb over a less-populated area east of Wetmore Road.
However, 2.5 miles after taking off, most aircraft then would be flying over Northern Hills -- an area that now gets few overflights.
Rankin said a technical advisory committee that included airport-area residents thought the proposal would reduce noise for most neighborhoods, although there was some concern about a possible conflict with aircraft from Randolph AFB.
Rankin said the proposal may be dropped with the additional study, but added he believes making the northeast runway preferential will be recommended to City Council in the summer.
"If we can do a turn and affect people less, we're going to try to do the turn," he said. Gallagher, however, said if that is the recommendation, "we will be very disappointed," adding it would "ignore several important safety issues."
But other neighborhoods would welcome a shift in the flight paths, particularly those southeast of the airport.
Northwood resident Moulder said, "I think that it should be tried, but very carefully, involving the citizens."
Rankin, speaking about next week's noise tests, said all airlines and cargo-jet operators have agreed to provide such data as takeoff weight,
thrust, flap settings and climb rates. He said it wasn't known how many operators would participate in the quick-climb takeoffs.
Rankin said the takeoff pattern could not be changed until its approval by City Council and an extensive review by the Federal Aviation administration, followed by lengthening the northeast runway by 1,500 feet.
An environmental study also is required, he said, and it would take two or three years to get those accomplished.

Also: See the editorial "Lower the decibel level on airport noise debate"