Northern Hills Homeowner's Association

Mike Gallagher Responds

Nov 11, 2000

Mr. James Coburn . . . . . November 10, 2000
Managing Editor
The Northside Recorder
San Antonio, TX 78247

Sir,

District 10 Councilman David Carpenter should be commended for his November 9 article in the Northside Recorder in which he attempts to find a solution to the San Antonio Airport noise problem. Unfortunately, his ?“best we can do?” solution of insulating homes will help very few in northeast San Antonio.

The plan put forward by Ricondo & Associates Inc. calls for diverting almost 60 percent of all departing aircraft into a narrow corridor over northeast San Antonio. Ricondo?’s noise level maps clearly show that almost all of the homes under this new flight path will be ineligible for funding for additional insulation proposed by Mr. Carpenter.

This is a minor problem compared to the serious safety issues resulting from this proposal:
1. It dangerously mixes fast and slow aircraft into the same narrow corridor.
2. It sends planes directly into Randolph Air Force Base flight pattern.
3. It requires pilots to execute an immediate 15-degree right turn on lift off followed seconds later by a 15-degree left turn immediately after crossing Wetmore Road. Asking a pilot to turn immediately after lift off is dangerous and irresponsible.
4. It results in many take off delays because the only way to safely separate fast and slow aircraft in the same corridor is to hold them longer on the runway.

I am a former military aircraft controller and I have spoken to numerous civilian and military controllers and pilots about this proposal. All of them tell me the same thing. The Ricondo plan of diverting aircraft into a narrow 15-degree corridor is dangerous and must be changed.

We should all follow Mr. Carpenter?’s advice and call his office at 207-7276 and the Airport Noise Mitigation Office at 207-3471 and register our concerns. Enough calls may help prevent a terrible accident from happening over northeast San Antonio.

Sincerely,



Michael Gallagher
4302 Hilton Head
San Antonio, TX 78217