Councilman provides update on aircraft issues
Peak tourist season is upon us. There are at least two ways to tell. Traffic is backed up on Estero Boulevard and more aircraft are flying low over the Town of Fort Myers Beach. As you are likely aware by now, on Sept. 30, 2008, a new air corridor was implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration and brings about 50 percent of the arriving aircraft from the south. The other 50 percent arrive from the north on an existing air corridor. The center of Fort Myers Beach is in direct alignment with the runway. Aircraft are currently allowed to be as low as 1,600 feet. The Town is about 10 miles from the runway at its closest point. Within the next 5 years a new runway will be built. It will be parallel to the current runway and located about one mile south. The impact to the Town of Fort Myers Beach is significant. As air traffic increases, it is likely that the noise of aircraft will be heard over all parts of the island.
Efforts are being made to address aircraft intrusion. Implementation of improvements has been slow. About a year ago, the FAA informed me that a new approach procedure requiring aircraft to be no lower than 3,000 feet would be implemented at the end of September 2010. This change was delayed because of an FAA personnel change. In a recent telephone call with FAA Southern Regional Administrator Doug Murphy, I was informed that the earliest possible date for amending these approach instructions used by pilots is the end of August 2011. Changes must be thoroughly evaluated by the FAA to ensure a safe transition.
The FAA is evaluating several other arrival procedures that could provide significant improvements for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Aircraft arriving from the north have been allowed to use an air corridor that goes over Estero Bay rather than directly over the island when air traffic and weather conditions allow. The new approach from the south did not allow aircraft to use a corridor over Estero Bay. However, the FAA is now evaluating an approach that would allow some aircraft to use an Estero Bay arrival. This new air corridor could be implemented within 60 to 90 days unless an environmental impact study is required. If a study is required, it could take 6 months to a year before aircraft could routinely use the Estero Bay route. During times of high traffic, aircraft will still be pushed out over the Gulf and must cross the island.
Murphy is working with the “box haulers,” like UPS and FedEx. These aircraft use the north approach and often arrive before 6 a.m., when they are controlled by Miami, not by our local airport controllers. Arrival procedures are being modified to be less intrusive for Islanders.
Starting with the south arrival route, the FAA will be flight-testing a procedure called optimized profile descent. This will be the first time an OPD procedure has been evaluated for an airport the size of Southwest Florida International. Only aircraft using an RNAV navigation system, which more aircraft are using, will be able to use OPD. These trials have been moved ahead of other airports in response to the concerns raised by the residents of the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Starting at 3,000 feet, the pilot will idle the throttle and coast during descent to the runway. Aircraft crossing the island should be significantly quieter. If the trials are successful the OPD procedure will also be used for aircraft arriving on the north arrival route.
The FAA has provided Southwest Florida International Airport with a grant to install a real-time flight tracking system. A website will be developed that will provide arriving and departing aircraft location and altitude information. This will provide detailed reporting information for anyone making a noise complaint. It will also provide data to evaluate whether arrival procedures are being followed. This project has been approved and the system is expected to be operational no later than April 2011.
An outside contractor has been hired to update the FAA Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study. The study could take up to two years to complete. It is imperative that all noisy, low-flying aircraft be reported to the noise hotline at the airport. Call 590-4466 and leave a message. I have been assured that you will get a call back within 24 hours. You may also make a noise report using email at: noisecomment@flylcpa.com. Provide as much information as possible, such as date, time, location and aircraft description. This information will be detailed in the Part 150 Noise Study. Copy me at FMBAircraft@yahoo.com.
My term as Town Councilman will end on March 21, 2011. I intend to continue my efforts regarding aircraft issues. I can be contacted at the email listed above.
Tom Babcock is a councilman for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Although his term ends soon, he can still be reached regarding aircraft issues over Fort Myers Beach.