"Area residents voice concerns over Pease airport noise"

Friday, September 15, 2000

Area residents voice concerns over Pease airport noise
By BRAD MORIN
Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.


PORTSMOUTH—Is Pease International Tradeport becoming an extension of Boston’
s overcrowded Logan Airport?

That concern was voiced by residents Thursday night at the quarterly meeting
of the Pease Noise Compatibility Committee. The committee grew out of a 1995
Federal Aviation Administration noise study and is comprised of community
and airport representatives.

Joseph Pescatello of Rye said he was struck by figures provided by Airport
Manager Mark Rowell that show Pease averages 40,000 takeoffs and landings
annually. The 1995 FAA study predicted that number would jump to 100,000 by
2010.

Rowell noted that Pease averaged 80,000 takeoffs and landings yearly in the
mid-1970s, when it was still an Air Force base. Those aircraft were much
louder than the commercial and Air National Guard planes that fly out of
Pease today, he said.

"We just do not want to see a ‘Logan North,’" said Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn
Sirrell.

Pescatello quizzed the airport manager about a recent visit to Pease by
Logan Airport representatives. Rowell reminded the crowd that Logan is much
larger than Pease and is looking to build another runway to reduce
overcrowding.

"They were visiting here to see what our capabilities are," Rowell said.
Specifically, they were looking to see if Pease could handle more cargo
traffic, he said.

"The ‘Logan North’ thing, sure it makes good headlines," Rowell said. He
pointed to an aerial photograph of Pease. "But you can see we only have one
runway."

Rowell said Celestica Inc., an electronics manufacturer located at the
tradeport, is increasing its cargo traffic through Pease. That company
employs about 800 people locally, Rowell said.

"I take more exception to them flying Boston cargo in here then Celestica,
which provided jobs in the neighborhood," Pescatello replied.

The airport manager was also questioned about last week’s vote by the Pease
Development Authority Board of Directors, allowing two charter services that
offer passenger service from Logan to park their airplanes overnight at
Pease. Sirrell noted that the three local representatives on the board of
directors were outvoted on the issue.

Rowell said the two charter services were asked to comply with voluntary
noise restrictions. Because Pease is a public airport accepting federal
funds, it would have no authority to keep them out if it wanted to, Rowell
said.

Bringing in the airplanes also increases the likelihood that these charters
may eventually offer passenger service at Pease, Rowell said.

"They know where Pease is, and they know what facilities we have," he said.

Residents also complained about the noise from training flights by
Continental Airlines and Air National Guard C-5 airplanes. The airplanes are
conducting "touch-and-go" landings and circling around the airport for pilot
training.

Rowell said he will look into a suggestion voiced by Portsmouth City Manager
John Bohenko that Pease install a hotline, allowing residents to learn when
the training flights are scheduled.

   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA Discussion Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID8

*****************************************