November 2000
The following comments and questions have been received by the Regional Airport Authority and consultant team and appear unedited in their entirety.
Questions and comments received through the Project Information Line, Project Website, and/or Public Information Centers will be forwarded to the RAA and responded to by the consultant team at the next Study Group Meeting, and posted on this site.
Audubon Parkway
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
Another clear, sunny, and utterly disrupted day in the heavily populated areas around the airport, as noisy departures launched to the north over and over again from dry runways and in moderate westerly winds. Below is a representative extract of nearly three dozen readings taken from on-field instruments as these operations occurred:
| Local Time | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Tailwind Component |
| 1025 | 290 | 11 | 6 |
| 1145 | 270 | 7 | 1 |
| 1240 | 290 | 11 | 6 |
| 1335 | 260 | 11 | 0 |
| 1410 | 280 | 9 | 3 |
| 1435 | 280 | 12 | 4 |
| 1540 | 260 | 10 | 0 |
| 1620 | 260 | 11 | 0 |
| 1915 | 260 | 8 | 0 |
| 2145 | 240 | 4 | -1 |
Responses to previous instances have so rarely offered any plausible extenuation that each new occasion necessarily puts the professional stature of the responsible people in increasing jeopardy. Given that these are the people who control the airspace above our heads, there's a scary thought. We need to get this trend turned around, and soon.
Delor Avenue
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
How much longer do we have to suffer with this noise? Is anything ever going to become of us? Are we being forgotten about? I personally believe this study thing needs to quit dragging its butt and get on with it? The noise is not going to go away, so let's take care of the people who have to deal with it. I don't want to wait on some more results from tests and opinions from committees, I WANT RESULTS THAT WILL FIX MY NOISE PROBLEM! I did not ask for it and I had no idea it was coming when I bought my home. It's just not fair. Why don't the committees and politicians come live here for awhile and see if something doesn't happen real fast to take care of this problem. Please pass this along to everyone and maybe someone will have a heart.
Anonymous
Taylorsville, KY
November 2000
I live in Spencer County and I get both large and small aircraft over my house. It is one right after another. When I call Jefferson County, they tell me they are routing the traffic away from the densely populated areas, but they are just shoving it down my throat instead. No one is checking on these small planes that hotdog out here, flying low and doing maneuvers. Field work needs to be done. I have complained for two years and nothing has been done.
River Road
Louisville
November 2000
I live off of River Road and I’ve noticed over the past few months that there has been an unbelievable increase in the amount of aircraft noise over my area. It is all day and all night. I noticed during the day it sounds like they are coming over to. Is there anything that can be done to help us?
Anonymous
November 2000
Recently, I have noticed that the airport noise seems to be getting louder in my area. In fact, it has been so loud on occasion that my windows have been shaking. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed that before. I can only imagine how bad it must be for my neighbors that live closer to the airport.
Preston Highway
Louisville, 40217
November 2000
What do you plan to do about the air pollution and the jet fuel being dumped on our homes that is causing our roofs and siding on our homes to deteriorate this is getting very costly. Who is going to pay for all this damage not we the home owners may I suggest that you take the passenger added tax and pay us for all the repairs that have to be made on our homes. Thank you.
Audubon Parkway
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
Another neighborhood evening lost to the noise north of the airport, as aircraft departures persisted over these heavily populated areas in evident disregard of published runway use procedures. Despite dry conditions, and a tailwind threshold required to exceed seven knots before directing operations northward, departures to the north occurred at each of the times indicated, with wind conditions on the field as shown. I've tried to include every such operation observed, in order to show interludes available to reverse the direction of operations at various points during this period:
| Local Time | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Tailwind Component |
| 1950 | 270 | 6 | 1 |
| 2000 | 280 | 8 | 3 |
| 2002 | 260 | 9 | 0 |
| 2005 | 260 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 260 | 9 | 0 |
| 2035 | 260 | 10 | 0 |
| 2045 | 270 | 11 | 2 |
| 2100 | 260 | 7 | 0 |
| 2102 | 250 | 9 | -2 |
| 2115 | 260 | 7 | 0 |
| 2135 | 260 | 7 | 0 |
| 2150 | 260 | 9 | 0 |
| 2152 | 270 | 7 | 1 |
| 2154 | 270 | 6 | 1 |
| 2157 | 270 | 7 | 1 |
We need to work on some ideas to improve this profile of aberrant activity. Input still welcome.
Audubon Parkway
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
Another Friday evening inexplicably spoiled for residential areas north of the airport. Noisy, non-preferred departure operations were directed north throughout the late afternoon and evening, despite dry conditions and westerly winds. Here is just a small sample of readings given on the field during this period:
| Local Time | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Tailwind Component |
| 1700 | 280 | 8 | 3 |
| 1800 | 270 | 9 | 2 |
| 1900 | 270 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000 | 280 | 8 | 3 |
| 2100 | 270 | 7 | 1 |
A full set of readings taken in conjunction with each departure lies entirely in this range. The strongest wind occurred at 1640 - 280 degrees, 10 knots - the lightest at 2108 - 300 degrees, 4 knots. Coincidentally, these both give a tailwind component in the runway direction of 3 knots - the most tailwind observed throughout the period, and less than half the threshold called for to justify these highly disruptive operations. The community still awaits concrete steps to improve visibility of and/or fidelity to our noise compatibility procedures.
South Third Street
Louisville, 40214
November 2000
Last night around midnight the planes work me up – these were the huge ones. It was so loud it was setting off car alarms.
Preston Highway
Louisville, 40217
November 2000
The planes are going over my house continuously today. There’s got to be something you can do.
University of Louisville
Louisville
November 2000
Aircraft are flying over the University – all day for the past few days. The faculty is upset because of the constant disruption and I would like to know what is going on.
Loi Road
Floyds Knobs, 47130
November 2000
Can you please tell me what is causing the planes to fly so low over Floyds Knobs?
Audubon Parkway
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
Once again, no quiet evening for the densely populated areas north of the airport. Despite light winds and dry runways, aircraft departed in the non-preferred direction throughout the late afternoon and evening. Below is a representative sample of more than two dozen wind readings taken from on-field instruments during these operations.
| Local Time | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Tailwind Component |
| 1625 | 310 | 6 | 5 |
| 1710 | 350 | 4 | 4 |
| 1735 | 320 | 5 | 4 |
| 1750 | 320 | 4 | 3 |
| 1835 | 300 | 5 | 3 |
| 1905 | 320 | 8 | 7 |
| 1930 | 330 | 7 | 7 |
| 2005 | 320 | 6 | 5 |
| 2040 | 350 | 4 | 4 |
| 2105 | 340 | 5 | 5 |
As you can see, at only one interlude in the entire period, the first half of the 7 PM hour, did wind conditions even reach, but in no case exceed, the published 7-knot tailwind threshold for reversing runway operations to north flow.
The implications are quite simple. The available data make these operations look abusive of community responsibility. If in fact they aren't, then more complete data are needed in the impacted area. Simple - but a point raised repeatedly, and still awaiting a response.
Audubon Parkway
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
Herewith another small sampler of wind conditions reported on the field concurrent with northbound turbojet departures. There was some light mist last night, but of course that would only affect preferred runway use if there was a positive tailwind component. As it is, some ideas still awaited...
| Local Time | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Tailwind Component |
| 1920 | 240 | 4 | -1 |
| 1940 | 230 | 3 | -1 |
| 2005 | - | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | - | calm | 0 |
| 2105 | 200 | calm | -3 |
Audubon Parkway
Louisville, 40213
November 2000
Saturday afternoon was an endless stream of engine roar once again in the residential areas north of the airport. Despite light winds and dry runways, aircraft used the non-preferred northerly direction for departures throughout the afternoon. Below is a representative sample of more than two dozen wind readings instruments on the field reported when these operations occurred.
| Local Time | Wind Direction | Wind Speed | Tailwind Component |
| 1320 | 350 | 5 | 5 |
| 1350 | 320 | 4 | 3 |
| 1410 | 010 | 3 | 3 |
| 1430 | - | calm | 0 |
| 1510 | 340 | 5 | 5 |
| 1550 | 300 | 5 | 3 |
| 1620 | - | calm | 0 |
| 1650 | 300 | 4 | 3 |
| 1720 | 290 | 5 | 3 |
| 1830 | 290 | 4 | 2 |
Plainly no reading at any point in the afternoon approached the published 7-knot tailwind threshold for reversing runway operations to north flow.
Evidence continues to accumulate that makes these operations look contrary to any sense of community responsibility by those conducting them. If there are additional factors to consider, then more complete data are needed by the impacted citizens. Still looking for some ideas.
Vinedale Avenue
Louisville, 40220
November 2000
I own several rental properties, and am very interested now in selling them all. One in particular in on Larkspur (in the airport area), and I want to know when I can expect to be contacted about selling it.
Holsclaw Hill Road
Louisville
November 2000
The planes wake me up at 3:30 – 4 a.m. each morning and continue to go all morning. The noise is so loud it vibrates my whole house and sometimes it seems it all is going to crash down on me. If you are not going to stop the planes from continuously roaring through here, then I am contacting legal counsel.
Alexander Avenue
Louisville, 40217
November 2000
When I first bought my home, there was no aircraft noise, but now it is a constant. Please let me know hat you are going to do.