AIRCRAFT NOISE ABATEMENT TASK FORCE FOR THE ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. January 28, 2004

Transcription

1 AIRCRAFT NOISE ABATEMENT TASK FORCE FOR THE ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT January 28, 2004 The Aircraft Noise Abatement Task Force for the St. Petersburg- Clearwater International Airport (PIE) met at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport Administration Building, Conference Room 234, at 3:03 P.M. on this date with the following members present: Thomas Jewsbury, Interim Airport Director Connie Bardgett, American Trans Air (ATA) Alan Clendenin, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - PIE Air Traffic Control (ATC) Rick Cortez, Signature Flight Support Peter Cunzolo, Execujet Charter Service Saundra Curry, City of Clearwater resident Bruce Haddock, City of Oldsmar resident J. B. Johnson, Del Oro Groves Homeowners Association, City of Clearwater resident Phil McNiff, United Parcel Service (UPS) Steve Ochsner, Feather Sound resident John Padavich, City of Safety Harbor resident Timothy F. Robinson, City of Pinellas Park resident Lieutenant Commander Mark Russell, U.S. Coast Guard Russ Weltzien, FAA - PIE ATC, NATCA Absent: Captain James Fitzgerald, U.S. Army Reserve H. D. Holland, Feather Sound resident Richard Peiffer, FAA - Tampa ATC, National ATC Association (NATCA) Lieutenant Commander Stephen H. Torpey, U.S. Coast Guard Michael Yuska, FAA - Tampa ATC Also Present: Karen Williams Seel, Board of County Commissioners (BCC) William M. Davis, Pinellas County Environmental Management Dick Williams, Pinellas County Emergency Communications 1

2 Michael Thompson, URS, Inc. Donald Casey, Del Oro Groves Homeowners Association Michael D. Keith, ASIG - GA and Commercial Diane Kendron, City of Safety Harbor resident Linda L. Smith, Bayshore Townhomes resident Deborah Van Brunt, Feather Sound resident Monique M. Savas, Airport Administration Elaine Smalling, Airport/Community Relations Lloyd Tillmann, Airport Operations Manager Jason Schwartz, Airport Operations Other interested individuals Dawn Rubio, Board Reporter AGENDA 1. Introductions and Opening Comments 2. Eliminating Scheduled Flights between 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. UPS Visit (December 12, 2003) UPS Commitment 3. Formal Request to Federal Aviation Administration Evaluation of Tampa Bay Airspace Charted Visual Approach to Runway 35R Modified GPS/FMS Approach to Runway 17L Request for Congressional Support 4. Proposed Scopes of Work 2004 Noise Study Modified GPS/FMS Approach to Runway 17L 5. Semi-Annual Task Force Report Annual Noise Complaint Report 7. Safety Harbor Resolution 8. Instrument Landing System Upgrade 9. Airport Master Plan Update (public meeting comments) 10. Open Discussion 11. Adjournment 2

3 INTRODUCTIONS AND OPENING COMMENTS At the direction of Mr. Jewsbury, those in attendance introduced themselves; whereupon, he announced that Steve Ochsner, Feather Sound resident, is replacing Debbie White as the Task Force s at-large member. Mr. Jewsbury also announced that Noah Lagos will begin his duties on February 16, 2004 as Airport Director; that Lloyd Tillmann has been appointed Airport Operations Manager; and that Elaine Smalling is the Public Affairs liaison between PIE and the community. He called attention to a document titled St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport Community Update, a copy of which has been filed and made a part of the record; and related that the update will be provided to the public on a quarterly basis. He thanked the Task Force members who attended the Airport s Tenant Appreciation Day; and reported that the Airport served almost one million passengers in 2003, representing a 60 percent increase over ELIMINATING SCHEDULED FLIGHTS BETWEEN 11:00 P.M. AND 6:00 A.M. Mr. Jewsbury reported that he and Mr. Tillmann met with UPS representatives in Louisville, Kentucky on December 12, 2003; and related that UPS responded in writing that they are committed to working with the Airport to ensure that early morning UPS flights adhere to the scheduled arrival; whereupon, Mr. McNiff indicated that some UPS aircraft continue on to South America; and that the schedule cannot be changed at this time, but UPS is evaluating the situation. FORMAL REQUEST TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Mr. Jewsbury indicated that he formally requested that the FAA evaluate PIE s Class D airspace in order to implement noise mitigation procedures which require a higher altitude ceiling and to establish a charted visual approach for Runway 35R; and called attention to correspondence in which County Administrator Stephen M. Spratt 3

4 solicited similar support from U.S. Representatives C. W. Bill Young and Mike Bilirakis. Copies of the correspondence have been filed and made a part of the record. Mr. Jewsbury related that he and Mr. Tillmann had met with FAA representatives in Atlanta on January 27 regarding a potential modified Global Positioning System (GPS) approach; and that Mr. Tillmann will provide an update during discussion of the proposed scopes of work. PROPOSED SCOPES OF WORK Mr. Tillmann called attention to draft documents titled St. Petersburg- Clearwater Airport (PIE) Airport Noise Study Initiative - Proposed Scope of Services and Scope of Work - Development of a New Standard Instrument Flight Procedure Serving Runway 17L at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, copies of which have been filed and made a part of the record; and indicated that the scope of services for the noise study consists of three tasks as follows: Field validation of an integrated noise model involving data collected during a seven-day period from several communities in the flight paths; Development of a baseline noise contour using the noise model data; and Evaluation of the results, both present and future. He indicated that a Request for Proposal will be initiated by Environmental Management instead of the Airport; whereupon, following discussion, Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson and carried, that the noise study initiative scope of services be pursued. Mr. Tillmann related that the proposed instrument flight procedure serving Runway 17L differs from a charted visual approach and requires FAA evaluation; and Mr. Jewsbury indicated that the instrument procedure is a modified GPS approach not being used anywhere else. 4

5 SEMI-ANNUAL TASK FORCE REPORT Mr. Jewsbury reported that he will draft a summary report to the BCC; whereupon, Mr. Padavich moved, seconded by Mr. Robinson, that the semi-annual report include the Task Force s recommendation that the noise study be completed prior to the BCC s consideration of the runway extension. Discussion ensued in which Mr. Jewsbury indicated that previous studies of other airports indicate that a longer runway may result in benefits concerning noise levels; and Mr. Davis suggested that the net effect of the runway expansion is not known at this time; and that the members may wish to reconsider their motion. Upon call for the vote, the motion, as presented, carried unanimously ANNUAL NOISE COMPLAINT REPORT Mr. Tillmann distributed copies of the draft Annual Noise Complaint Report, a copy of which has been filed and made a part of the record; whereupon, Mr. Jewsbury reported that the final report will be distributed at the next meeting. Discussion ensued regarding problems encountered when reporting noise incidents by telephone and on-line; and Mr. Tillmann indicated that he will work with the members to obtain resolution of the on-line technology problems. INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS) UPGRADE Deviating from the agenda, Mr. Jewsbury related that the Airways Facilities Division of the FAA has notified PIE that an upgrade to the ILS will be installed between February 17 and March 2; and that the existing system will be inoperable during that two-week period. In response to query by Ms. Kendron, Mr. Jewsbury related that a nonprecision instrument approach or a visual approach will be used during the two weeks; and Mr. Tillmann indicated that incoming aircraft may occasionally need to land elsewhere. 5

6 SAFETY HARBOR RESOLUTION Mr. Jewsbury referred to a City of Safety Harbor resolution dated January 20, 2004, a copy of which has been filed and made a part of the record; and requested that the members be prepared to discuss it at the next Task Force meeting. AIRPORT MASTER PLAN UPDATE (PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS) Mr. Jewsbury indicated that citizen comments made at the airport public meetings held last September are being responded to and will be included in the Airport Master Plan to be submitted to the FAA; but that the FAA will not take the comments and concerns into consideration when making its decision for approval. OPEN DISCUSSION Mr. Jewsbury distributed the 2004 schedule of Task Force meetings, a copy of which has been filed and made a part of the record. Mr. Padavich referred to an article in today s Wall Street Journal regarding the Administration s proposed reductions in airport improvements; whereupon, Mr. Jewsbury requested a copy of the article. Mr. Padavich reported a homeowner s complaint that fuel had been dumped in her swimming pool by an overhead aircraft; and Mr. Jewsbury reported that investigation revealed that no dumping had occurred; and that strict policy dictates dumping procedures which would take place only during an emergency. Ms. Smalling requested that the members indicate their preferences at the next meeting for ways in which the public can contact them. Mr. Robinson reported that some pilots are not using the recommended south departure; suggested that Airport management write a letter to all chief pilots to enlist their assistance in reinforcing the published departure procedures; and thanked Mr. Jewsbury for his efforts regarding the Task Force; whereupon, several Task Force members also expressed appreciation to Mr. Jewsbury. 6

7 ADJOURNMENT At the direction of Mr. Jewsbury, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 4:43 P.M. 7