Council backs residents on aircraft over-flights
Efforts to decrease the number of aircraft flights and increase the altitude of those flights over Estero Island received a governmental push Tuesday morning.
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council unanimously approved another resolution to support those aircraft issues and implement noise abatement procedures to address public concern at its meeting. The Town position will be registered with officials conducting the current Federal Aviation Regulation Part 150 Noise Study, scheduled to be completed in March 2012.
Resolution 12-02 follows resolution 09-03, which was approved by Council members in March 2009. The newer resolution, which was presented by a group of concerned Beach residents called A.I.R. (Airline Intrusion Relief), addresses additional information and issues that impacted Beach residents and visitors nearly three years ago.
“From what I learned, I think it would be worthy and wise to adopt this resolution that was presented by these folks,” said Mayor Larry Kiker, who, along with Town Manager Terry Stewart, met with Lee County Port Authority Director Bob Ball (read guest commentary on page 5.)
According to Town records, statistics show that 67 to 80 percent of aircraft landing to the northeast on Runway 6 at Southwest Florida International Airport arrive over Fort Myers Beach, depending on weather conditions. Some of these aircraft over-flights occur before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
Aircraft flights over the Beach to that specific runway have been reported to be as low as 1,600 feet. Town and A.I.R. officials are requesting those arrival procedures be modified “to clearly state that pilots must maintain minimum altitude above 4,000 feet until they are east” of Estero Island.
“The sooner we can ask (Lee County Port Authority officials) to present to the FAA to keep them at 4,000 feet, I think that the recommendations and the way it is written is to eventually have the design miss Fort Myers Beach entirely and go behind it. From what I gathered from Mr. Ball, this is an achievable thing that can happen,” said Kiker.
Three modifications to the A.I.R. resolution were made at the meeting. Six Florida international airports were documented on pilot approach plates to be required to be above 3,000 feet approximately 10 nautical miles from the runway; an exhibit on noise reduction levels be attached to it; and either the mayor or his/her designee meet quarterly with the Lee County Port Authority.
“That would create a sense of urgency,” said Councilman Alan Mandel, who proposed the final condition.
Four members of A.I.R. offered public comment before Council approval. Each member has done extensive research regarding the issues and thanked Town staff for expediting the resolution process.
“It’s important to get that information in as soon as possible, because the recommendation that comes out in March may be very difficult to change after that point,” said former Councilman Tom Babcock. “What is going to win the day is real data and making reasonable requests in trying to minimize negative impacts to any community around the airport here.”
Beach resident John Pohland showed Council members a chart to visually describe his points.
“Currently, the chart for landing indicates they should be allowed to fly over our island at 1,600 feet and intersect the ILS (Instrument Landing System), which is an electronic signal coming off the airport for landing purposes roughly 4.4 miles from the airport. But, it is at our expense,” he said. “As I extended that ILS line to 10 nautical miles, you can see that it would be quite comfortable for them to intersect the ILS at just below 4,000 feet. There is no reason why they can’t do it at 3,000 or 4,000 feet.”
The over-flights were likened to the Beach having a railroad track on it. Some surrounding communities have recommended aircraft use alternative arrival routes over Estero Island.
“They have them hitting us from the north, the middle and from the south now,” said Beach resident Tom Merrill. “Fifteen years from now, we are going to have a huge problem.”
FAA representatives have had ongoing meetings with Port Authority and area representatives to address the issues pertaining to Estero Island. New flight procedures could be used to direct aircraft over the Back Bay, so that the number of aircraft flying directly over Fort Myers Beach is reduced.
As well as requesting a minimum altitude of 4,000 feet above the island, Town officials are requesting that threshold conditions be re-evaluated to determine if aircraft controllers can route more aircraft to land on another runway to fairly distribute the impact of over-flights on all communities surrounding the local airport.
If these requests are not met, Beach residents may be affected by Real Estate implications.
“We might need to declare that we are in a landing zone,” said Beach resident Tom Cameron. “Guess what that will do for the Real Estate in this area.”
Council backs residents on aircraft over-flights
Efforts to decrease the number of aircraft flights and increase the altitude of those flights over Estero Island received a governmental push Tuesday morning.
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council unanimously approved another resolution to support those aircraft issues and implement noise abatement procedures to address public concern at its meeting. The Town position will be registered with officials conducting the current Federal Aviation Regulation Part 150 Noise Study, scheduled to be completed in March 2012.
Resolution 12-02 follows resolution 09-03, which was approved by Council members in March 2009. The newer resolution, which was presented by a group of concerned Beach residents called A.I.R. (Airline Intrusion Relief), addresses additional information and issues that impacted Beach residents and visitors nearly three years ago.
“From what I learned, I think it would be worthy and wise to adopt this resolution that was presented by these folks,” said Mayor Larry Kiker, who, along with Town Manager Terry Stewart, met with Lee County Port Authority Director Bob Ball (read guest commentary on page 5.)
According to Town records, statistics show that 67 to 80 percent of aircraft landing to the northeast on Runway 6 at Southwest Florida International Airport arrive over Fort Myers Beach, depending on weather conditions. Some of these aircraft over-flights occur before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
Aircraft flights over the Beach to that specific runway have been reported to be as low as 1,600 feet. Town and A.I.R. officials are requesting those arrival procedures be modified “to clearly state that pilots must maintain minimum altitude above 4,000 feet until they are east” of Estero Island.
“The sooner we can ask (Lee County Port Authority officials) to present to the FAA to keep them at 4,000 feet, I think that the recommendations and the way it is written is to eventually have the design miss Fort Myers Beach entirely and go behind it. From what I gathered from Mr. Ball, this is an achievable thing that can happen,” said Kiker.
Three modifications to the A.I.R. resolution were made at the meeting. Six Florida international airports were documented on pilot approach plates to be required to be above 3,000 feet approximately 10 nautical miles from the runway; an exhibit on noise reduction levels be attached to it; and either the mayor or his/her designee meet quarterly with the Lee County Port Authority.
“That would create a sense of urgency,” said Councilman Alan Mandel, who proposed the final condition.
Four members of A.I.R. offered public comment before Council approval. Each member has done extensive research regarding the issues and thanked Town staff for expediting the resolution process.
“It’s important to get that information in as soon as possible, because the recommendation that comes out in March may be very difficult to change after that point,” said former Councilman Tom Babcock. “What is going to win the day is real data and making reasonable requests in trying to minimize negative impacts to any community around the airport here.”
Beach resident John Pohland showed Council members a chart to visually describe his points.
“Currently, the chart for landing indicates they should be allowed to fly over our island at 1,600 feet and intersect the ILS (Instrument Landing System), which is an electronic signal coming off the airport for landing purposes roughly 4.4 miles from the airport. But, it is at our expense,” he said. “As I extended that ILS line to 10 nautical miles, you can see that it would be quite comfortable for them to intersect the ILS at just below 4,000 feet. There is no reason why they can’t do it at 3,000 or 4,000 feet.”
The over-flights were likened to the Beach having a railroad track on it. Some surrounding communities have recommended aircraft use alternative arrival routes over Estero Island.
“They have them hitting us from the north, the middle and from the south now,” said Beach resident Tom Merrill. “Fifteen years from now, we are going to have a huge problem.”
FAA representatives have had ongoing meetings with Port Authority and area representatives to address the issues pertaining to Estero Island. New flight procedures could be used to direct aircraft over the Back Bay, so that the number of aircraft flying directly over Fort Myers Beach is reduced.
As well as requesting a minimum altitude of 4,000 feet above the island, Town officials are requesting that threshold conditions be re-evaluated to determine if aircraft controllers can route more aircraft to land on another runway to fairly distribute the impact of over-flights on all communities surrounding the local airport.
If these requests are not met, Beach residents may be affected by Real Estate implications.
“We might need to declare that we are in a landing zone,” said Beach resident Tom Cameron. “Guess what that will do for the Real Estate in this area.”