‘Greener Skies’ followup: FAA schedules South Seattle meeting

Call this a followup to a followup. As requested by Mayor McGinn last week, the FAA has scheduled a south-end meeting “in response to community concerns about air traffic issues over Seattle,” according to the mayor’s spokesperson Aaron Pickus. He says the meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23 from 6-8 pm at NewHolly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. South. The mayor’s letter was inspired in part by Alki Community Council president Tony Fragada bringing up concerns about the “Greener Skies” air-traffic proposal at the August 28 mayoral town hall at Southwest Teen Life Center. Tonight, in fact, the ACC’s monthly meeting includes a followup on “Greener Skies”; the public’s welcome as always, 7 pm, Alki UCC (61st and Hinds).

UPDATE: According to the Quieter Skies Task Force, the NewHolly Hall meeting is now at 6:30-8:30 pm on October 23rd.

dsa September 20, 2012 (8:49 pm)

7054 32nd Ave, he said the FAA always wins. Don’t forget to show up, Oct 23 6PM.

Susan September 21, 2012 (6:30 am)

The Greener Skies Initiative is GOOD for West Seattle (and all of Seattle for that matter) — it will make the approach significantly quieter because their engines are at lower power settings. They also approach from a higher altitude. This is a GOOD THING! Susan @ Alki

M September 21, 2012 (9:13 am)

Agree with Susan. Plus the new engines are much more quiet than older models that are no longer in use as they use too much fuel.

Neighbor September 21, 2012 (10:17 am)

@Susan-I live on the east hill of Admiral. This is so very unfair to the residents here. We live with a huge increase in noise from the port, at all hours of the day. Every night this week I have been woken up by the noise. Every day I live with small planes flying on top of my neighborhood buzzing the roofs of our houses. Every day now we have HUGE Alaskan planes right on top of us. They are flying low, they are flying on the hill.

This is about what is fair. This neighborhood is absorbing an enormous amount, in both noise and pollution. The new approach is great when the pilots actually follow the routes however, this is not what is happening. In the words of the woman appointed to take our complaints, “they are just tryin’ to save fuel.” So they are not flying by the rules, they are trying to save their company money but shortcuts that are putting the safety of my family at risk not to mention our sanity.

We are NOT happy about this at all. We want a noise monitoring device put here in our neighborhood now. We want the science to show this neighborhood is already suffering sue to the Seattle Port. We want what is safe and fair for our neighborhood.

WSeapilot September 22, 2012 (9:39 am)

@ neighbor- I can assure you that the planes flying by your neighborhood are absolutely following the rules. To accuse them of threatening the safety of your family is unfair. Pilots follow the rules setup by the FAA and we do not deviate. If you want change continue going to the meetings and challenge the flight path.

S in Admiral October 4, 2012 (10:19 pm)

They are not following the published new flight path over the Admiral district. The path shows the planes banking over the water NORTH of Admiral but they are turning right over admiral neighborhoods and the noise is absolutely relentless. I used to feel like I lived in a hidden treasure- now it sounds like we are being invaded. I watched and counted the planes tonight until I was in tears. 15 in 20 minutes. How is this drastically sudden change fair to this community ?

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