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davis_squareFrom the Somerville News:
http://www.thesomervillenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=1466
"Last Wednesday, June 3rd, lawyers representing the city of Somerville argued in Suffolk County Superior Court that Massport's use of runway 14/32 at Logan Airport is in violation of a 2004 legal ruling that set specific criterion for how the runway should be used if constructed.
The courtroom was packed for the 2pm hearing. Many in the room were lawyers representing defendant Massport and the plaintiff communities who have brought this case to trial. Some in the courtroom were Somerville residents who came to support the case, tired of the increased air traffic over their homes. Judge Stephen Neel presided over the hearing."
http://www.thesomervillenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=1466
"Last Wednesday, June 3rd, lawyers representing the city of Somerville argued in Suffolk County Superior Court that Massport's use of runway 14/32 at Logan Airport is in violation of a 2004 legal ruling that set specific criterion for how the runway should be used if constructed.
The courtroom was packed for the 2pm hearing. Many in the room were lawyers representing defendant Massport and the plaintiff communities who have brought this case to trial. Some in the courtroom were Somerville residents who came to support the case, tired of the increased air traffic over their homes. Judge Stephen Neel presided over the hearing."
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 05:50 pm (UTC)I'd rather the city fight for concessions regarding the use of certain aircraft: you can't use your circa-1978 ex-Eastern Airlines planes on the 6 AM LaGuardia shuttle, guys. Amazing how much quieter newer aircraft can be.
BWTFDIK?
Apparently...
Date: 2009-06-10 06:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 07:51 pm (UTC)Not necessarily a waste of "taxpayer dollars"
Date: 2009-06-10 08:14 pm (UTC)Look, it's pretty clear that the FAA/Logan/Whoever are violating the terms of the agreement. It's also pretty certain that the FAA/Logan/Whoever really wants to use that runway as much as they can. Wouldn't a settlement be the obvious result?
Discuss...
Re: Not necessarily a waste of "taxpayer dollars"
Date: 2009-06-10 09:08 pm (UTC)If it's the airport or the airlines, that means we (yes, we, all of us) pay higher airfare (or airport fees) as a result. If it's the FAA, well, isn't that a federal agency? Then it's our tax dollars, just divided among more people.
I don't see who this would really benefit.
Re: Not necessarily a waste of "taxpayer dollars"
Date: 2009-06-10 09:17 pm (UTC)"Sure the doctor sawed off my leg when I went in for a tonsillectomy, but if I sue him, I won't get my leg back. His malpractice insurance will pay for it which means higher insurance premiums and doctors will charge everyone more. It's still my multi-million dollar settlement, just divided among more people."
Re: Not necessarily a waste of "taxpayer dollars"
Date: 2009-06-10 09:33 pm (UTC)And I'm certainly not saying people should never be sued, I just think this suit is a frivolous waste of taxpayer money in the first place, and your "silver lining" about not being a waste of money is no such thing.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 09:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-10 10:40 pm (UTC)Re: Not necessarily a waste of "taxpayer dollars"
Date: 2009-06-10 10:58 pm (UTC)That's what tax policy is -- redistributing money from one group to another. In this case, the larger group of taxpayers are presumably benefiting from improved air service while a smaller group are being hurt by increased noise.
OK, let's try this:
Let's say that, when Logan first wanted to build the new runway, they said to Somerville and other nearly towns, "We know that this new runway will increase the noise level in your communities. To make up for that, how about we give you $X million to go towards improving your towns' greenspace?" Would you have objected to that? Instead, the FAA/Logan/Whoever either lied (or later changed their mind) about how this runway was going to be used and got the runway approved based on those claims. So now the city is asking for the compensation it should have been offered in the first place.
To all people who are contributing to this lawsuit...
Date: 2009-06-11 01:21 am (UTC)1978? If you're lucky.
Date: 2009-06-11 01:40 am (UTC)Larger planes are another source. These are on International flights.
I always wanted to (in jest) make the argument that we should ban International Flights.
City of Somerville lays off 14 workers
Date: 2009-06-11 01:43 am (UTC)Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today he issued a total of 14 layoff notices to city employees on Friday, June 5 as part of a larger plan to eliminate a total of 24 positions, 21 of which are union positions, from the city’s FY2010 budget. The changes in staffing will affect 10 different departments and reduce the city’s budget shortfall by nearly $1.2 million. (http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x1176007857/City-of-Somerville-announces-layoffs)
How much does this lawsuit cost?
Re: City of Somerville lays off 14 workers
Date: 2009-06-11 01:57 am (UTC)Re: City of Somerville lays off 14 workers
Date: 2009-06-11 02:01 am (UTC)Runway 14/32
Date: 2009-06-11 02:03 am (UTC)BOS 06/087 BOS RWY 4L LAHSO LGTS OTS
BOS 06/113 BOS RWY 15R/33L CLSD
BOS 06/076 BOS RWY 14/32 CLSD
BOS 06/075 BOS RWY 15L/33R CLSD
BOS 02/007 BOS AD HEAVY BIRD ACTIVITY
BOS 03/112 BOS OBST CRANES UNKN (150 AGL) 1 W AER 9
When the runway does happen to be open, it is not used by the larger, noisier (new or old) planes. The runway simply isn't long enough. Also, there is a fairly tall hotel right at the departure end of Runway 32, which has the effect of making the runway a one-way street. The planes that use this runway take off to the southeast, and the planes that land on this runway come from the southeast. If you look southeast of that runway on Google Maps, you will see only water and the harbor islands. From my perspective, 14/32 is used very sparingly, and Runway 33L is used when wind conditions favor its use. Airplanes generally take off and land into the wind. It gives them greater performance, meaning a shorter takeoff distance, shorter landing distance, faster climb-out (and thus less noise on the ground), and an increased margin of safety.
Pilots are aware of noise sensitive areas, and we do our best to avoid them when we are able to, although when we are close to Boston Air Traffic Control has a lot of say over where we fly. We fly over a lot of water, industrial areas, and sparsely populated areas. We will not compromise the safety of the flight to avoid overflying densely populated areas, however. We have to consider wind and other weather, traffic, and aircraft performance. These are the major factors in determining which runway to use to maximize the safety of each takeoff or landing. When there is a strong wind from the northwest, you will likely hear planes over Somerville so residents and visitors of the Boston area can depart Logan safely.
Re: 1978? If you're lucky.
Date: 2009-06-11 03:30 am (UTC)Re: Runway 14/32
Date: 2009-06-11 04:48 pm (UTC)And, hey! Facts!
Re: Runway 14/32
Date: 2009-06-11 05:50 pm (UTC)Re: Runway 14/32
Date: 2009-06-14 06:52 am (UTC)As for noise -- there's plenty of smaller planes that can be pretty audible at those heights -- I notice A320s most because of the distinctive drone of the CFM56. But as the planes we hear are likely coming from 33L, they could really be of any size.