[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Re: Follow-up regarding DIA aircraft noise

[cmosupport at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Head, Timothy

Council Member Morzel,

Thank you for your e-mail.  I received replies back from DIA and the FAA this week and have compiled everything into a memo.  It is currently being reviewed by Public Works staff and hopefully will reach you on Friday or Monday.

Thanks,
Tim

Tim Head
Airport Manager
Boulder Municipal Airport
303-441-3108

From: Morzel, Lisa
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2016 8:50 PM
To: Head, Timothy
Cc: Council-Internal; alishar at nederlandco.org; Rait, Maureen; Sweeney, Michael; HOTLINE
Subject: Re: Follow-up regarding DIA aircraft noise

Hi Tim,

Thanks for these recent responses. In this response written on September 21, 2016, you note that "Mike McKee from DIA is going to prepare a written response that will contain a lot more information.  He will provide background about the environmental studies that were conducted, statistics about route usage, explain upcoming public feedback opportunities, and more.  He hopes to have this for you early next week."  Have you received a response from Mr. McKee yet?


Since it's now several weeks since you've written that email, I'm wondering if you have not received a response, would you please contact Mr. McKee at DIA so we can get a response?  I may have missed it but as you are aware, we have received many emails and calls from individuals in Boulder, especially south Boulder, being adversely affected by the increasing number of flights and associated noise associated with flights coming from and into DIA.


Thanks much. I look forward to learning of the response from Mr. McGee.

Lisa

Lisa Morzel
Member, Boulder City Council

303-938-8520 h
303-815-6723 c

"We interact with one another as individuals responding to a complex haze of factors: professional responsibilities, personal likes and dislikes, ambition, jealousy, self-interest, and, in at least some instances, genuine altruism.  Living in the here and now, we are awash with sensations of the present, memories of the past, and expectations and fears for the future. Our actions are not determined by any one cause; they are the fulfillment of who we are at that particular moment.  After that moment passes, we continue to evolve, to change, and our memories of that moment inevitably change with us as we live with the consequences of our past actions, consequences we were unaware of at the time." The Last Stand, Nathaniel Philbrick


On Sep 21, 2016, at 4:20 PM, "Head, Timothy" <headt at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:headt at bouldercolorado.gov>> wrote:

Good afternoon Jane, Alisha, and members of Boulder City Council,



In response to e-mails and calls from the local community about DIA aircraft noise, I was asked to look into the matter and wanted to provide a quick update.



Over the last week or so I have had several conversations with Mike McKee, DIA's noise abatement manager, and Bill Dunn, FAA airspace and procedures specialist for the Denver area.  In those conversations, I shared your concerns and discussed at length what might be causing the increase, or perceived increase, in air traffic near Boulder.  As a result of our research and discussion, we have a likely answer.



When DIA opened in 1995, and up until 2014, there was essentially one westbound departure route that passed a few miles south of Boulder.  This was due to the limited number of ground-based navigational aids that forced aircraft onto a limited number of routes.  As technology improved, the FAA upgraded aerial navigation routes as part of Congress' NextGen program.  These new routes were no longer limited by ground-based navigational aids, thus expediting air traffic and saving fuel.  Here in Denver, the FAA implemented these new departure routes in March of 2014, and has been using them ever since.  Although aircraft now have more routes to choose from, to get them to their destination more efficiently, one of the routes is closer to Boulder.



As a result of your concerns, Mike McKee from DIA is going to prepare a written response that will contain a lot more information.  He will provide background about the environmental studies that were conducted, statistics about route usage, explain upcoming public feedback opportunities, and more.  He hopes to have this for you early next week.  I just wanted to let you know that we've made progress and to expect more details soon.



Sincerely,

Tim


Tim Head
Airport Manager
Boulder Municipal Airport
303-441-3108