Legislation would ensure communities and airports have the opportunity to engage with the FAA before flight path changes. (Photo by Erin Johnson/Cronkite News)
Deborah Ostreicher, Assistant Director for the Aviation Department, delivered the update to the Aviation and Redevelopment Subcommittee. (Photo by Erin Johnson/Cronkite News)
Sky Harbor changed their flight paths September 2014.
(Photo by Erin Johnson/Cronkite News)
Citizen advocate Dianne Barker said the issue has polluted neighborhoods.
(Photo by Erin Johnson/Cronkite News)
The Phoenix City Council’s Aviation and Redevelopment Subcommittee met to discuss the latest on the Sky Harbor flight path. There was hope that legislation would be passed in Washington before Thanksgiving to give some local communities relief, but it was pushed back.
Noisy aircrafts have created a stir in the community since Sky Harbor changed their flight paths September 2014.
Neighborhoods, two of Arizona’s Congressional leaders and the Phoenix Aviation Department have been working to resolve the issue.
“This is an issue that has been happening around the country,” said Deborah Ostreicher, assistant director for the Aviation Department. “There are communities that are coming out very loudly across the country against the FAA’s making these types of moves. We here in Phoenix are no different.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) introduced legislation that would provide relief for the community.
The legislation would ensure communities and airports have the opportunity to engage with the FAA before flight path changes.
But for some, the process just isn’t moving fast enough.
“The big picture is maybe we really need to look at reliever airports rather than just arguing about the route changes,” said Dianne Barker, a citizen advocate.
The Senate amendment could come up for a vote by Dec. 11.