News Articles

Back to
Links Index
     
The Courier-Journal Reader's Forum
11/01/01

REROUTING OF FLIGHTS TO WEST RUNWAY DEPLORED

I am a West Louisville resident, and I am somewhat confused by the Oct. 20 article concerning the proposed rerouting of airline flights from the cast runway to the west runway. The "volunteer, citizen-led loose-knit group of 200 participants" who proposed the flight path change stated that their "lives had been interrupted by airport noise." But according to the chart of flight plan noise levels shown with this article, the loudest possible sound level of the airplane, at 100 feet of elevation (right before landing), is only 76 decibels. The chart illustrates that 70 decibels are equivalent to TV audio, and 80 decibels are equivalent to a ringing telephone. So what am I missing here? How can noise levels this low interrupt lives? If the noise levels are in fact this low, why must the flight paths be rerouted? Why not keep them as they are? What is the truth here? I'll tell you what the truth is. First of all, the planes are loud, disruptive and more than just a minor ringing-telephone annoyance. In fact, the planes are so loud, conversation has to cease until they pass. Second, West Louisville residents will not be deceived into believing that the noise is not that bad. I completely agree with Frederick Liggin's statement about how West Louisville residents already have to cope with sewage, rubber and chemical plant air pollution. We are also currently coping with UPS airplane noise pollution, which wakes me up most mornings at 4 a.m. West Louisville is primarily a low-income, minority community, and has a disproportionate share of environmental hazards. Adding one more environmental hazard probably justifies a call to the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Justice.

SHERROLYN G. DUFFY
Louisville 40212
         

back to top