Study: Airport probably can’t ban noisiest jets
By TRAVIS PURSER
Express Staff Writer
Hailey’s Friedman Memorial Airport probably can’t ban
the handful of noisy, outdated stage-2 corporate jets that fly into the
Wood River Valley, concludes a study funded by the Sun Valley-Ketchum
Chamber of Commerce and Sun Valley Co.
The planes often leave a flurry of complaints in their
wake from neighboring residents.
Still in draft form until at least next week, the report
seeks to find ways to eliminate or reduce stage-2 jet noise, while
promoting tourism through better air service.
The "stage" designation measures noise levels.
Sun Valley Co. general manager Wally Huffman would
especially like to see more and bigger jets servicing the area. But that
might inflame Bellevue and Hailey residents, who say they get few of the
tourist dollars generated by the airport, but all the noise. Banning
outdated stage-2 jets and encouraging newer, larger but quieter stage-3
jets might solve the problem.
But the Federal Aviation Administration historically has
opposed airports’ banning any particular aircraft. FAA officials have
said that might interfere with interstate commerce, the report states. To
restrict the jets, small airports like Hailey’s, will probably need to
form a nationwide consortium to lobby for new federal legislation.
The Blaine County Air Transportation Advisory Group, whose
members include officials from the airport, city governments, chambers of
commerce, Sun Valley Co. and private citizens, commissioned the report.
Except for statements in a press release, Sun
Valley-Ketchum Chamber of Commerce director Carol Waller refused to
comment on the 15-page report because it is still in draft form and not
ready for release to the public, she said. Airport manager Rick Baird
declined to comment for the same reason.
Air Transportation Advisory Group chair Tom Blanchard, in
an interview Friday, said he believes that 10 to 30 percent of the noise
complaints the airport gets each month are caused by stage-2 aircraft.
The number of complaints fluctuates, reaching nearly 60
during a summer month, to only a few in a winter month, the report states.
Friedman airport already has a voluntary noise abatement
program that encourages pilots to fly in a way that minimizes noise to
surrounding communities. The program requests, but doesn’t require, that
pilots avoid flying between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The request is not always
heeded.
The report recommends that airport managers consider
having the FAA review the safety of nighttime operations. If safety issues
arise, then the airport could be closed to nighttime flights.
Blaine County, Bellevue and Hailey planners could also
change land-use zoning around the airport to encourage compatible uses,
the report states. Building codes could require noise-attenuating features
such as soundproof windows and extra insulation. The report doesn’t
state who would pay for the features.
Other recommendations include exploring new ways to ensure
that pilots know about the noise abatement program, and continuing to help
the public understand why the airport "must operate as it does, how
it operates and its value to the community."
Frederick Isaac and Temple Johnson, veterans of the FAA
now working for a Bellevue, Wash.,-based consulting firm called
InterFlight Services Inc., interviewed over 40 people for the report. Four
were Bellevue residents or city officials.
Two other reports are also scheduled to be released in the
next few weeks. One covers the proposed installation of new navigation
equipment at Friedman to improve foul-weather landing. The other report
analyses market competition and the possibility of beginning regularly
scheduled commercial air service using 50- to 70-passenger regional jets.
