Establish Local Citizen Control Over Airports

Current FAA noise abatement policy is being made by those who benefit from airports and not by those adversely impacted by airport operations and pollution. This injustice can be corrected by requiring that two-thirds of all airport commissioners and FAA officials live within the 65 DNL noise contour.

Put Jesus into the FAA. Jesus’s command to do unto others as you would have them do unto you will insure that FAA and airline executives put aside their our own private interests and act instead on the basis of rules that would be equally reasonable for all people to adopt.

Obviously, very few airport decision makers would choose to live with their airport noise policies, and in fact, very few actually do live near under a flight path. What is lacking is a procedure to ensure that airport decisions are made in such a way that they could be wished upon everyone, including the decision makers. That procedure is to require FAA workers and airport managers to live within the 65 DNL contour.

What is needed is a Noise Abatement Policy similar to a procedure that has been taught to us in childhood: if I serve, you choose. If I split the candy bar, you get to pick what half you want. It is a procedure that ensures fairness, since I will get stuck with a smaller piece if I do not split it fairly.

Not only is this a just procedure, it is a democratic one. Local control, as long as it does not result in local discrimination against minorities, is central to American’s conception of democracy. It is at the heart of New England town hall democracy and it is the mantra of the Republican Party. Increasing the voice of those most affected is the best way to ensure that they are compensated for any damage caused by airports and airport policy.

Please write to the FAA and tell them that the most effective noise abatement policy is for FAA workers and airport managers to live within the 65 DNL contour.

Send comments in triplicate to:
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of the Chief Counsel
Attention: Rules Docket (AGC-200)
Docket No. [30109]
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591

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