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DeKalb Citizens Should Monitor FAA Plan to Alter Flight path By Elaine Boyer Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is already one of the world’s busiest airports. It certainly holds the crown for having the most arrivals and departures in the nation – almost 1 million in 2009. As a result of so many liftoffs and touchdowns, there is a corresponding amount of noise that accompanies aircrafts at the economic hub of international flight. However, now the Federal Aviation Administration now wants to change the rules when it comes to the way aircraft make their way into Hartsfield. It is considering altering the approach and departure patterns into the nation’s busiest airport. The result is that large commercial airliners could be making their presence known more over DeKalb County and the north metro Atlanta suburbs in the coming years if the federal government has its way. The airspace known as “Class B” surrounding the immediate airspace around Hartsfield is under review by the FAA and could be compressed. That means smaller aircraft would fly closer to the ground and larger commercial jets, in turn, would also at lower heights the public is not used to seeing in this area. PDK’s Airport Director Lee Remmel is as concerned as I am about safety. This means there will be less air space for smaller, pleasure aircraft. And there is the potential for more noise from more commercial air traffic from Hartsfield flying over areas including Dunwoody, Chamblee Tucker, Decatur and into South DeKalb. The DeKalb Peachtree Airport Board held its first meeting with citizens in the Chamblee area in mid January. PDK Watch and airport officials are joining hands to try to prevent the FAA from making changes to airspace rules that will impact noise and safety in DeKalb and the north metro Atlanta region. WSB television did an initial story on this issue in January. To link to the YouTube clip of the story to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_zUAC175ho Meanwhile, the FAA will be taking public comments on this idea to allow more airspace in metro Atlanta for its jets, forcing smaller aircraft closer to the ground. The first hearing will be a presentation at 3 p.m. on March 1 followed by public input from 5 to 7 p.m. I encourage my constituents to learn more about this very important issue which will create a safety issue and impact property values for years to come. To review the FAA’s documents go to: http://dot.ga.gov/localgovernment/intermodalprograms/aviation/Documents/AdHocCommittteeInformationAOPA.pdf
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