Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor | Is Tacoma Narrows Airport a good neighbor?

Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) — A good neighbor?

Residents of 98332, 98333, AND 98335:  Have you experienced aircraft over your home:

• In increasing numbers?
• In increasing frequency?
• With increasing noise levels?
• At sometimes very low altitudes?
• In the early morning, all day long, and late into the evening?
• On weekends and holidays?

Sadly, this is completely legal, and Pierce County, the Control Tower (FAA representative), the flight schools at TIW, and the pilots who use TIW are all well aware that the FAA has total control over airplanes while in the air.  Where does this absolute authority come from?  Read on …

Background: In 1990, Congress passed the Aircraft Noise and Capacity Act (“ANCA”) which places noise and safety complaints under the FAA.  ANCA does not allow mandatory restrictions on airport operations unless certain conditions are met.

Important Point #1:  Since ANCA, not one mandatory restriction of any kind has ever been approved by the FAA.  The FAA, it appears to me, has only two purposes:  (1) To promote aviation, and (2) to enhance safety.

The FAA has absolute authority over planes in the air.  At TIW, that’s the Tower.  Just my opinion, but absolute authority should be accompanied by respect, empathy, and concern.  You can decide if that respect, empathy or concern exists at TIW after reading this and upcoming letters.

Problem #1:  Increased Traffic:  Here’s the FAA’s data for “local civil traffic” (non-military and non-commercial traffic taking off from and landing at TIW):

We’ve been told the County is looking to expand the use of TIW even further.  In addition, we’ve been told, “If you think the planes you hear now are loud, wait until you see what’s coming!”

Problem #2:  Failure To Respect FAA Advisory Rules:  The FAA has common sense advisory rules that are NOT being consistently followed at TIW (impacting both noise AND SAFETY):

• Low Altitude Advisory: Except for takeoffs and landings, planes flying over a “…city, town, or settlement or over any open air-air assembly…” must maintain an altitude of at least 1,000’ above the highest elevation within a 2,000’ radius
• Number of Turns When Exiting A Departure Pattern: The FAA advises pilots to make the minimum number of turns while in a departure pattern.

Problem #3:  Failure To Respect Pierce County Rules & Regulations:  Pierce County has its own Noise Abatement Program.  Here are some highlights of that Program:

• Pattern Altitude is 1,300’
• VFR (“Visual Flight Rules”) for planes remaining in the airport’s pattern require a departing plane to climb to 1,000’ before making any turns from the runway heading and then to climb to 1,300’
• Do NOT make short turns after takeoff

Sadly, very few planes are at 1,300’ when doing touch and goes.  Planes do occasionally make turns before even reaching the water and end up flying directly over Wollochet at low altitudes.

Problem #4:  TIW has no noise abatement procedures in place:  I asked those in charge of TIW what their current noise abatement procedures were.  Their response:  Total silence.  I then asked if I can assume because of their silence that no noise abatement procedures are currently in effect.  Again, total silence.

Pierce County also has its own advisory Rules & Regulations (“R&R’s”) (keep in mind that the implementation of these R&R’s is entirely in the Tower’s discretion).

• “Fly Friendly – Be a Good Neighbor” on page 15 of the R&R’s: Is flying 7 days a week at all hours of the day being a good neighbor?
• “Noise Abatement Procedures” on page 16 of the R&R’s shows:

First Box:

• Runway 17 (taking off at the bottom): Standard Left Hand Pattern
• Runway 35 (taking off at the top): Standard Right Hand Pattern

Second Box:

• Maintain Runway Center Line until 1,000 Feet MSL or the Golf Course Whichever Occurs Last

Third Box:

• Maintain Runway Center Line until 1,000 feet MSL or Mid Channel Whichever Occurs last

The vast majority of flights departing on Runway 17 do NOT turn left as suggested by the County’s R&R’s.  Remember, it’s the Tower that has the option of following the voluntary rules or not.  It’s clear that the Tower has chosen not to follow these Noise Abatement Procedures.  In fact, the Tower admitted to me that this particular R&R applies only when the Tower is closed.  If it’s good to use when there’s no control, why wouldn’t it be good to use when there is control?  Recently, during a brief period when the Tower had a temporary change in personnel, the standard left hand turn was used much more frequently, and the noise reduction was noticeable.

My next letter will discuss suggestions we’ve made to address the noise and safety issues and the responses we received.

Craig McLaughlin

Fox Island

Letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of Gig Harbor Now.

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