"Houston Airport agreement aims to shush the noise"

Friday, May 21, 2004

Airport agreement aims to shush the noise
By RHEA DAVIS
The Houston (TX) Chronicle


Federal aviation officials and area members of Congress have hammered
out an agreement to better manage flights at Bush Intercontinental
Airport and reduce neighborhood noise.

The runway management plan, which takes effect Monday, requires
Intercontinental's new northern runway to be the last one used, based on
airport demand.

The runway's opening on Oct. 31 created a firestorm of protest from area
residents, who complained of a huge increase in noise levels.

The July 8 reopening of a runway that's been undergoing renovations will
allow for the new northern runway to be used only during "extreme
situations" between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., airport officials said.

The plan also calls for the runway to be the last one used during the
day.

Residents near the runway are skeptical.

"I don't believe a word they say," said Sunny Johnson, who lives about a
quarter of a mile from the site. "If it is the truth, it will be the
first truth."

Johnson said she has nailed pillows to her windows to block the noise
and is so frustrated she may sell her home.

"I've lived here for 14 years, and I have been without sleep for six
months," she said. " ... I've been heartbroken over this. I've cried a
thousand tears. My home means everything to me."

Alicia Cosme, who has lived less than a mile from the airport for 14
years, seemed just as unconvinced.

"Let's see what happens," she said. "I'm not going to take their word.
Let's see some action."

Richard Vacar, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System,
noted that use of the northern runway has been higher than expected
because of the extended closure of the other runway.

"The runway burden has put a burden on both the airlines and the
communities around the airport," Vacar said. "This plan will help us
minimize late-night noise impacts from the new runway as well as
maintain our typical runway-use patterns."

The plan also will give the Houston Airport System an outline for which
runways will be used during certain emergency situations, airport
spokesman Ernie DeSoto said Friday.

"We've been trying to get this done for quite a while," DeSoto said.

The agreement stemmed from talks between the airport system, the Federal
Aviation Administration and three members of the U.S. House of
Representatives: Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, Gene Green, D-Houston,
and Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont.

Ava Wilkerson, FAA southwest regional administrator, called the
agreement important and said the agency is committed to making it
succeed.

Green said immediate relief for the neighborhoods is necessary, noting
that the results of an airport noise study will dictate residents'
eligibility for federal assistance.

"If this plan falls short, we have a commitment from the airport and FAA
to fix it," Green said. "We will listen to residents and review the plan
monthly to ensure enforcement."

Brady emphasized that the main goal is for the northern runway to be
reserved for emergencies and extreme situations at night and to be the
last runway used during the day.

"We are adamant about this and have been assured by the FAA and the
airport that this runway management plan will achieve our goal," he
said.

Lampson noted that residents demanded the airport noise be lessened, and
he said the plan moves in the right direction.

"But there's still more work for us to do," he said.


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