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Monday, November 26, 2007 Opinion Airports must balance a
variety of factors By RAUL REGALADO The Tennessean Nashville
International Airport (BNA) and John C. Tune Airport (JWN) play a vital role in
our region's economic development. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA)
airports are truly economic engines for the greater Nashville economy as well
as for the Middle Tennessee region's economy. Our airports serve business and
leisure travelers extending across the state and across state lines to residents
of southern Kentucky and northern Alabama. MNAA's vision is customer-focused. We strive to deliver
exemplary customer service by providing premier airport services and
facilities. We work hard every day to provide our customers safety, security, convenience
and value-added services. In upgrading our facilities to ensure compliance with the
highest government standards and customer expectations, noise-related matters
and changing flight patterns do arise from time to time. As a result of aggressive mitigation efforts during the
1990s and the fact that older, noisier aircraft have not landed at or departed
from BNA since late 1999, the need for an aggressive noise abatement program
has been mitigated. In fact, the airport's noise contours, or the areas in
close proximity to BNA that were significantly affected by noise-related
aircraft activity, have been reduced. The most recent noise exposure map done
in 2004 indicates that the noise contours are significantly smaller than those
in the 1993 map. FAA determines flight patterns The Federal Aviation Administration is the agency
responsible for studying, reviewing and determining flight patterns. As
airports, we do not institute flight patterns nor control air traffic; however,
we continue to work with and cooperate with the FAA as they establish flight
procedures. In recent months, changing flight patterns have affected
surrounding neighborhoods. Construction at Nashville International Airport has
resulted in air traffic being routed over areas that previously had not
experienced departure and approach of aircraft. While an inconvenience, these
construction projects are necessary to ensure the safety of the public. Two of
BNA's four runways currently are closed for runway reconstruction. Runway 13/31
will reopen soon. We take the concerns of surrounding neighborhoods
seriously. We follow up with members of the public who contact us. We are doing
everything we can to ensure the ongoing safety of departing aircraft while
being sensitive to surrounding neighborhoods as Nashville's skyline and its
economy continue to expand. Recent flight pattern changes which resulted in
increased aircraft traffic over some neighborhoods were not the result of
proposed buildings in downtown Nashville. The MNAA enhances economic development in the region. One
out of 20 jobs in the Nashville metropolitan statistical area is related to
Nashville International and John C. Tune Airports. We're committed to serving our community as a vital
transportation hub while being a good neighbor. |
