All Things Travel: Massport To Look For Ways To Lessen Takeoff Noise
BOSTON (CBS) - Who calls a major press conference on four hours notice on the Friday before a Monday holiday?
The Massachusetts Port Authority that runs Logan Airport did just that on October 7 to announce the signing of a new study with the FAA to lessen aircraft noise in current takeoff flight patterns.
Noise in residential communities is one of the largest complaints voiced to Massport.
On hand for the ceremony, complete with place cards for the speakers and chart blow-ups were Congressmen Mike Capuano and Stephen Lynch, Regional FAA Regional Administrator Todd Friedenberg and Massport CEO Tom Glynn.
MIT will coordinate the study. Professor John Hansman, Jr. will lead the work, but was not asked to speak at the media briefing.
The FAA and Massport signed a Memorandum of Understanding to investigate opportunities to less noise impact on surrounding airport communities.
Capuano indicated that noise was a price you pay for having Logan Airport so close to downtown Boston. Lynch termed the study "baby steps."
The first results are expected in about a year.
Massport said that the number of flights at Logan were 100,000 less than historic highs of 15 years ago. Part of the reason for this reduction is fewer commuter flights to New England adjacent states like Maine.
Through August, monthly Logan numbers show that the airport had 262,100 flights arrivals and departures, up 6.4 percent in the first eight months of the year compared to 2015.
Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have announced major increases in flights next year with the 7-8 a.m. period at a capacity level for takeoffs
Of immediate concern to passengers using Logan over the Patriots Day holiday weekend were disruptions in airline schedules due to Hurricane Matthew.
Ed Freni, Massport Aviation Director, said that there had been over 60 flight cancellations through Friday morning due to the storm and that number was going to increase.
Even though damage along the southeast coast was not as bad as expected as the hurricane weakened in intensity, normal operations were not expected before Tuesday based on past storms. Especially hard hit, was the American Airlines hub in Miami where the airport was shut down.
Bob Weiss And All Things Travel Reports Can Be Heard On WBZ News Radio