A letter sent by Arizona’s senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, asks the Federal Aviation Administration to reconsider proposed changes to the Phoenix-area airspace.
The Phoenix Area Modernization Project is a proposal by the FAA to consolidate air traffic to set routes and update procedures for 10 airports in the Valley. As drafted, it would increase air traffic and airplane noise by as much as 6 decibels for more than 86,000 residents.
In a letter, Kelly and Gallego say a safer airspace and modernized procedures are important, but the FAA “has fallen short.” They say the flight path changes would result in significant consequences for tens of thousands while less disruptive alternatives exist.
“We are concerned that the FAA’s proposed flight procedure changes will have significant adverse effects for neighborhoods, communities, and airports across the Phoenix area,” the senators said in the letter.
The letter goes on to say the agency ignored existing noise abatement procedures and court rulings.
"Regrettably, rather than learn the lessons from this experience, the FAA's proposed Phoenix Area Modernization Project fails to address long-standing concerns raised by key regional stakeholders, ignores requirements of the 2017 Court of Appeals ruling in Phoenix v. Huerta, and exposes an additional 86,384 people in North Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler to new and unnecessary noise pollution," it says.
The FAA delayed plans to change the flight paths until next June to allow time to review community feedback.
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The Phoenix Area Modernization Project is a proposal by the FAA to consolidate air traffic to set routes. As drafted, it would increase noise from air traffic by as much as 6 decibels. -
The Federal Aviation Administration says it received “substantial feedback” from the public about its plans to change flight paths at Valley airports, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, and will delay those plans until next June. -
The Federal Aviation Administration is considering making changes to the Valley’s airspace, but the city of Phoenix is concerned the proposal would increase noise for residents in north Phoenix more than anywhere else in the city.
