Northern Hills Homeowner's Association

NH to Attend Last Public Meeting in Force

Oct 01, 2001

Northern Hills neighbors!

We had a huge turnout on September 18th at the Northern Hills clubhouse.

We had a lot more show up than we expected, so that means that our NH neighbors have not let up their guard. It was fantastic! The room was filled, and people continued to come in. We had to add five additional rows of chairs to the crowded room.

To those who came, thanks for showing your support. To those who didn't make it, read the text below and be sure you go to the last public meeting. If you can't do that, write down what your objections are, and call Mike Gallagher or me (John Penry) and we will arrange to pick your comments up to deliver them to the FAA.

Hearig the NH crowd's reaction on the 18th, I would have to say that the NH noise fighters are ready to rumble.

We have given them the information they need to address the FAA stenographers September 26th.

Be at this meeting!

The City of San Antonio aviation Department will hold a Public Hearing from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 26th, 2001, in the
Skylight Room of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 758 W. Ramsey, to receive public comments on the Noise Exposure Maps and proposed Noise Compatibility Program. These were prepared as part of the Federal Aviation
Regulations Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study Update for San Antonio Airport.
Paste this link into your browser. http://webworld.webhostme.com/airport/proposed_takeoff_route.htm

Study this map. This was a map prepared by Ricondo and associates when they were proposing that ALL air traffic leaving on runway 03 be turned 15 degrees. Now, we have this new plan that assumes that they can get 50% of the traffic to turn. So, imagine that both paths are being use at the same time!

What this creates is a . The traffic controllers would have to keep up with which planes have turned, which are flying straight out, and which planes on the straight out path are turning right and which planes on the 15 degree turn will be turning left.Bad idea. Period.

The noise contours produced by this plan back up ''where the noise stops'' further away from Northern Hills. We should be ecstactic about this. They were going to have a few of our neighbors exposed to 65 dNL noise, and now, nobody will hear anything. Anyone who believes that line, please call me. I have a bridge for sale.

When councilman Schubert says that they are not moving any measurable noise, does that mean that they don't have the equipment?

Where are the test results from the Close in - Far out take of tests?

For over 25 years, Northern Hills was not in the flight path. Why is it right to do this now? Is it because they can get money for a new runway if they can show it is for noise abatement? Fanning the flights leaving runway three reduces the dNL noise contours for all neighborhoods, but makes uninformed people think that aircraft noise stops at the 65 dNL line. It does not. Go to Madison High School on a cool day and found out how loud single event noise can be. dNL is averaging an exponential number and is an invalid way to determine noise exposure.

Who gains and who loses in real estate values because of this move? The other neighborhoods were offered at lower prices do to their location. We will have to suffer a loss if this happens.

Study the maps. Read the informaiton in the links. Knowledge is power, and if you tell the FAA you know what noise abatement REAlLY is, they will listen.

It has worked for us in the past. The public hearing at Coker produced almost two-thirds of all comments received, making the plan bad in the eyes of the FAA. We must continue to stress the fact that even the 50/50 plan is a bad idea.
Air traffic controllers that work at SA Airport cannot believe that this plan got as far as it did. They have a working plan now, and to subject them to come up with new procedures will be a difficult task.

Then, there is the conflict with Randolph. In 1992, a proposal was rejected because the path would put commercial traffic too close to the Randolph approach. This is very similar.

I also want to know how the City Council can accept a TAC study finding that is supposed to be recommended by the TAC, when no votes were called for.

Please read my open letter to Councilman Schubert in the newsletter section. Also, read the Bigfoot, Nessie, and the FAR 150 story.

We will be at the meeting, and want to see you there, too! One plane over Northern Hills is One Plane too many.


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