Local News

Noise concerns may alter airport flight paths

By NEIL HORNERNews Reporter
September 18^th, 2007

More than 400 people packed into the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre to listen and air their concerns about noise emanating from the municipal airport Thursday night. The meeting was called by Qualicum Beach council in light of an increasingly acrimonious debate which pitted area residents concerned about noisy overflights, against those who strongly support both the airport and the training flights emanating from it. In his remarks to the crowd, Mayor Teunis Westbroek urged both sides to show restraint and treat each other with respect, a request which, for the most part, was the case. Airport manager Trudy Coates and chief administrative officer Mark Brown gave an overview of the development of the airport and who is responsible for what. It was the question period at the end of the meeting when things got hot. Some residents complained of training flights buzzing around and around their homes, making life miserable. Others called for the air cadet program to be moved, a suggestion which brought out strong expressions of support for the cadets in response. Others said they weren't bothered by the noise at all. The key, said Transport Canada spokesperson Jeff Graham is for residents to phone in their concerns to the appropriate authorities if there is a problem. "Give us a call, so we can take steps,"he said. "If you give us the information - and we have done this in many cases - and an individual is unhappy with repetitive flight paths, we've had very good success with voluntary changes. They don't have to fly over the same place over and over again, but we need to know that information." This message was echoed by KD Air representative Lars Bank. "If you have a noise complaint, I need to know where you live,"he said. Lance Nater made it clear where he lived in his presentation. Representing the Eaglecrest Residents' Association, Nater called for calm in the issue and put forward some ideas about how to monitor airport noise. "The town needs to quantify the issue of noise,"he said. "Until this is done, we are all spinning our wheels ... Many airports have multiple decibel reading and recording devices in fixed locations as well as portable. These devices would enable the town to monitor airport activity with respect to noise and ultimately restablish a practical maximum decibel bylaw." Westbroek called the meeting productive and expressed confidence the issues raised will be addressed. "I'm optimistic that next year the noise issue at the airport will be addressed,"he said. "We are looking at relocating training areas and updating the Canadian Flight Supplement that determines fixed wing and helicopter flight paths. The supplement has not been updated since Chartwell has been built up, so it is not identified as a noise sensitive area." Westbroek said helicopter companies are being contacted, noting pilots generally don't go out of their way to be a nuisance. Although he said he won't try to prejudge council's decision, Westbroek also said he is optimistic the mothballed airport committee of council could be re-instituted, giving residents a clear option for addressing their concerns. "Obviously we cannot please everybody, but we will do our very best,"he said. news@pqbnews.com


Original Source:
http://www.pqbnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=50&cat=23&id=1066125&more=1

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