Council looks into airline issues resolution
For the second time in nearly three years, Beach residents are again speaking out on Federal Aviation Administration airplane/airport issues that are affecting those who reside on Estero Island.
Six residents offered public comment about related noise conditions, flight patterns and air pollution over the Beach at last week’s Town Council meeting. They are asking the Council to consider a new resolution -one was passed in March 2009- because much information has surfaced since the previous one.
“There is a great deal that we have learned since that resolution was passed. We feel that it would be best communicated by an addendum to that resolution in the form of another resolution,” said Beach resident and former Councilman Tom Babcock, the group’s point man.
Many public information workshops regarding the ongoing Southwest Florida International Airport Noise and Land Use Study commissioned by Lee County Port Authority were held in certain areas in Lee County. Two were held on the Beach in the past few months, the most recent on Nov. 15.
“They have collected a lot of input and feedback from communities surrounding the airport,” said Babcock.
Babcock stated he would like Council members to have an opportunity to look at a draft resolution pieced together by several informed citizens of the island. He is hoping that, once reviewed by Council and Town staff and attorney, the proposed resolution would be come to a vote at a regular Town Council meeting in early January.
Potential measures are to be evaluated during the next phase of the study.
“A consultant group will be making their recommendations in March of 2012. They really need to have information in hand no later than January,” said Babcock.
According to FMB Mayor Larry Kiker, the airline issues and resolution -which was also discussed at the Town workshop later that day- will receive Council attention in the near future. He is the liaison for the Town regarding the airline noise issues.
“We directed staff and legal counsel to work on tightening up the resolution. They will present it to Council to vote on and move forward with at possibly the next meeting,” said Kiker. The next Town Council meeting is slated for Tuesday, Jan.3, at 9 a.m.
Former Mayor Dan Hughes, Tom Merrill, Tom Cameron, John Pohland and Hank Zuba took turns supporting what Babcock had to say at the Council meeting. They are members of the concerned group called A.I.R. (Airline Intrusion Relief)
“I strongly endorse the proposed draft resolution support our efforts to decrease the number of aircraft flights over our town, increase the altitude of aircraft and implement noise abatement procedures when arriving over Fort Myers Beach,” said Hughes.
Merrill pointed out that aircraft noise has increased since the FAA instituted a redesign in air space on Sept. 30, 2009.
“They changed the original structure of airlines coming in throughout Florida. Now, they are starting to run 30 to 40 percent of flights past the airport, coming down here, turning and going out to Bonita Beach and then making a turn and coming over Fort Myers Beach again,” he said. “That’s why we have the problem we have today.”
Cameron discussed pilot duties and believes the answer is changing the approach back over the backwaters south of the island.
“Wind conditions determine which landing direction planes go into RSW. We have prevailing Easterlies here. That causes 80 percent of the landing aircraft to go over Fort Myers Beach landing to the Northeast,” he said. “Changing the approach would reduce the number of times that pilots are in the air and use far less fuel because they would be eliminating 25 miles of the loop.”
Pohland, a private pilot, stated approach flights are extremely lower than the no-less-than 4,000 feet arrival procedures.
“I have an approach flight for RSW dated Nov. 17, 2011, and it indicates the altitude approaching the airport at 1,600 feet,” said Pohland. “They are now trying to fly these planes for more than four miles before they have to descend any further on their approach. That is ridiculous.”
Kiker said that segment of the airline issues needs to be addressed.
“I do agree that keeping the flights above 4,000 feet is the right thing to be asking about,” said Kiker
Zuba reiterated what Town Manager Terry Stewart said at a recent Town workshop regarding the Beach being the economic engine for Lee County, but not having a strong enough voice to be heard.
“We don’t have enough decibels in our voice on certain issues anymore,” said Zuba. “First, we need to push to get factual data on the actual flight status system that has been talked about for several years. Secondly, we would urge the port authority to establish some kind of citizen’s advisory group to help advise from a community perspective.”