Increased airplane traffic?

[kennygster.livejournal.com]

Has anyone else noticed an increase in airplane traffic over Davis Square over the last 6 months?  We were just out on our deck having dinner (Day St and Orchard St) and it seemed like there was an airplane passing overhead (literally) every 2-3 minutes (no joke).  Worse, they made so much noise that it was constantly interrupting us.  I know the airplanes have to fly somewhere but it seems like Davis Square has become one of the major flight paths and I don't remember this being a problem last year.  Who should I complain to?

Comments

[dreamgirly19.livejournal.com]

Ive been noticing it too!

[msr-tim.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've noticed this too and it's quite annoying. Right now the airplane noise seems non-stop. I'm guessing they may be using a different runway for weather or traffic reasons which may require a different flight path. This may be a job for our alderpersons to investigate.

Traffic is DEFINITELY up

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

My fiancee davelew and I noticed it this weekend, too. Planes fly over much more often than they used to. Some of them have been flying significantly lower than I previously remember planes flying as well.

Re: Traffic is DEFINITELY up

[kpht.livejournal.com]

I think that it might have something to do with the new runway opening, but I'm not sure. There's definetly a new flight approach that comes right over my building in Everett.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

I think it has more to do with wind direction and perception than anything else, but:

From:

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/ciscig/q/q2q13.htm

Q7 Air Traffic Inquiries
Federal Aviation Administration
Tel: (781) 283-7011

Inquiries and complaints concerning air traffic patterns may be directed to this office.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

Also

Q8 Noise Abatement Inquiries
Tel: (617) 561-1636

This office handles complaints and inquiries concerning aircraft noise.

[msr-tim.livejournal.com]

Just found this noise abatement FAQ at the Massport site:

http://www.massport.com/logan/airpo_noise_faq.html#q1

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Yes, the air traffic has definitely increased. My 4-year-old has noticed it too, but of course he thinks it's great. ;)

[docorion.livejournal.com]

I agree with your 4-year-old. "Look, mummy, an airplane up in the sky!" Of course, I also took flying lessons for a while, until I ran out of money for them. Now I take sailing lessons; they're cheaper.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

It's *expensive* to defy gravity with the mass of one or more humans onboard!

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I have actually not noticed it. They do have to fly somewhere, after all.

[ron_newman]

Did you say Day and Orchard streets? Are you in my building (18 Day) ?

[joifulgurl.livejournal.com]

it has definitely increased. i find it kind of soothing, though. i love to hear them at night. but yeah, they do tend to be loud (Especially if it's windy that day) & can interrupt conversations.

Re: Increased Airplane traffic

[kennygster.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links/phone numbers. I'll lob in some calls to them.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Air traffic over Davis Square is definitely related to the wind direction. The prevailing direction sends planes far clear of here, but when the wind is blowing the other way, we're in the thick of it. I don't think that this has significantly increased over the years, but there is day-to-day and season-to-season variation.

If you're interested, have a look at http://www4.passur.com/bos.html and dial in the time when you heard a plane overhead. You can see what it was and where it was coming from/going. You can also waste a lot of time watching the planes, it's addictive.

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

I've noticed it, too, but I think it's more due to the wind direction than anything else. The new runway that opened at Logan is too small to handle the large aircraft that are flying overhead. I happen to fly a lot out of Logan for business and I've only flown over Davis Square once. It's NOT very common, in the grand scheme of things. I think that it's just been "weird weather patterns" that have brought them over here more often. I haven't seen a change in the published departure procedures out of Logan so I don't think that's it. (and yes, I'm a pilot myself so I pay attention to those kind of things).

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

This is not specifically to the OP, but to everyone who considers our air traffic a "problem:"

You live within biking distance of New England's largest airport. Airplanes make noise. If you want rural quiet with no sound save for the tranquil song of the crickets, that's what Western Mass is for. As for me, I'll take the air traffic if it means improved service at Logan.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Amen.

One thing I noticed is that I hear what sounds like a schoolbell off in the distance every night around 7:30 PM. Does anyone know what the deal is with this?

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard that, but sometimes I hear church bells playing a song. It's lovely!

[theora.livejournal.com]

I don't know about that. Nobody's saying they expect to hear _no- planes ever or to have complete silence at all times.

Noise pollution is a legitimate kind of pollution, and I think it's reasonable to be concerned when you perceive an increase in it. So I get really really frustrated at this kind of comment, which seems to dismiss any noise concerns out of hand. Noise is a pretty serious quality of life issue, especially in cities, and IMO it's something that deserves to be discussed like any other quality of life issue.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I love the planes. But my father is a pilot and I grew up going to the airport to watch the planes..

[somjournal.livejournal.com]

At one of the May aldermen meetings, Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche brought up increasing air traffic noise over East Somerville. Something was in the Journal, but I'm not sure if it made it online.

Interesting that people are noticing it in other wards too.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

Not only do the flight patterns differ with wind direction but they also differ with the weather / altitude of the clouds. It's probably that we've just gotten "lucky" for the past few months.

Color from Massport on airplane noise

[kennygster.livejournal.com]

Thanks for everyone who posted information. I followed up and the noise complaint number for MassPort is 617-561-3333. While the FAA is in charge of flight patterns, MassPort works with the FAA to settle complaints. The # of complaints filed from a particular area is important since it lets MassPort know how an area is dealing with flight patterns. So, I'd encourage you to call this number next time you hear airplane noise which is bothering you (No need to call for those who like the noise).

As many pointed out, the change in airplane traffic was due to the opening of the new runway. Specifically, there are more large planes departing on Runway 33 which is the source of the noise. This runway is used the most during days with strong west/northwest winds (usually more common in the winter/spring).

Since the new runway has been open for less than one year, MassPort is still examining the impact that the new runway is having on communities and changes are possible.