New Smyrna Beach Airport Changes
Current News:
Mayor, Commissioners, Airport Advisory Board Members:
I wish to address some of your comments regarding the "Noise Smyrna Beach" billboard on US1. I believe at this juncture, we can certainly agree that our community has a problem with nuisance noise from flight school training. Regardless if you believe it affects a few dozen or a few hundred, the issue is real and will not easily improve. Taxpaying homeowners have diligently attended meetings, sent emails, made personal pleas and the like in an attempt to call attention to this problem for over four years. Countless others who are affected do little to nothing because they feel helpless in the face of so much bureaucracy. Those who speak out continue to be ignored or even belittled at meetings and through email communication.
The billboard is an aggressive tactic to draw attention to a problem that has been routinely ignored, dismissed or invalidated for many years. Very little serious action has been taken to address the concerns of the community. There are no significant sustainable changes on the horizon that might afford taxpayers some relief from the invasion of their homes. Affected citizens have been more than patient on this issue that affects their quality of life on a daily basis.
In regards to the billboard, the original contract was for installation in March of last year. Two of our more hopeful board members voted to cancel the contract at that time, believing we should allow additional time for potential changes at the airport before taking a more aggressive stance. As nothing substantial within almost a year's time frame materialized, the billboard as well as some additional more substantial measures have been readdressed.
I understand many of you believe that the billboard is negative for the community and damages property values. With all due respect, I beg to differ. The billboard is not the problem, the NOISE is the problem. The billboard simply calls attention to something that you would prefer not be brought to light and disseminated to the public at large. Blaming the billboard is akin to blaming the newspaper's recent reporting on the two robberies in New Smyrna. Do you hold the reporter responsible for the negative connotations?
A Google search reveals over 35 sites that state: "New Smyrna prides itself on being a laid back coastal town, free of crowds, pollution and noise...." In many areas of the community, this is not true. Buyers need to be informed that they might not be getting what they bargained for.
Our intention is to educate the public and we fully intend to continue to do so through billboards, print advertising, the Internet and direct mail as well as other creative venues. Reports that we received last week from the FAA show that EVB ranks 9th busiest in the state of Florida and in the top 15% in the US for 2008. People looking for a quiet retirement would never expect sleepy New Smyrna to have an airport busier than Jacksonville International (by over 70,000 operations). For the average person, unless you are involved in aviation, it is not desirable to have this volume of aircraft over residential areas that cover much of the city and portions of the county.
Lastly, I would like to comment on the removal of Randall Hitchcock from the Noise Abatement Committee (NAC). I understand his removal was attributed to a conflict of interest because of his position with NSBCAN as well as concerns over the billboard. To follow the same logic, you would remove Arlen Stauffer (VP of FONSBA) as well as Danny Perna and Frank Ayers as they represent the schools creating the noise. I believe most of the NAC has a conflict of interest, although the diversity should have been embraced, not attacked. The conflicting "interests" are necessary on this type of committee to obtain some sense of balance.
Please allow me to state once again that we are not trying to close the airport, do not have an issue with local pilots and understand that the airport is a vital part of our community. Of the over 179,000 operations at the airport last year, according to the tower chief and airport manager's estimation, 85% were flight training---over 152,000 operations. This is highly excessive for a small community.
I sincerely hope that one day I and hundreds of others can regain our quality of life and once again be proud and content to live in New Smyrna Beach. Unfortunately, I believe the only resolution will be in a court of law.
Becky Hill
Secretary, New Smyrna Beach Citizens Against Noise
CITY'S DECISIONS FUEL LAWSUITS - 12/2/08
The city commission is considering the sub-lease of an aircraft hanger to a flight school/banner-towing company.
The City of New Smyrna is defendant in a lawsuit for barring real estate disclosure of their airport used by more than 20 flight schools. Two related suits are imminent.
Flight training accounts for 80-90% of traffic--equal to Kansas City, Palm Beach, and Albuquerque, cities with half-million populations. NSB is 21,000. Intensive, repetitive training causes complaints from beach side to Sugar Mill.
The Airport Advisory Board acknowledged the problem, unanimously (6-0) approving noise disclosure within a three-mile radius of the airport (11,000 residences). If the city commission had endorsed the vote, the city would not be a lawsuit target.
Disclosure of an off-site 'defect' such as aircraft noise that affects the desirability and/or value of property is Florida law, for seller and realtor (Ribak v.Centex, 1997). Whether noise bothers one or not, a material, off-site, non-obvious nuisance must be disclosed, or risk being sued.
Currently, the city's only efforts to address the problem are voluntary noise abatement and a FAA noise study. The FAA consultants confess that they will only use theoretical, computer-generated data, not noise levels recorded within the three-mile radius. Moreover, changes suggested to mitigate noise are unenforceable. Everything is voluntary.
The Noise Abatement Committee recently discussed new noise abatement. Progress was made--until the chief air traffic controller's outburst. When members agreed that the airport should return to the left-hand traffic pattern to reduce noise, he erupted: "I'm not going to do it, and you can't make me!"
He later told a resident: "I can put [runway] 25 planes over your houses all day if I want to!"
How can a community-friendly airport result from a tower chief with issues and flight schools that ignore compromise?
The airport is valuable to the community. However, low-altitude flights at 38-second intervals are not--unless you own a flight school. Tuition is $58,000 for six-months.
No landing fees are levied by the city--which the FAA encourages. They could generate $2 million annually.
The city created and sustains its nuisance. It is foolish to invite additional noise from another flight school. It will fuel lawsuits.
Bad news travels fast; realtors already report buyers asking, "Is it always this bad?"
As the city commission snickers, New Smyrna Beach's 'charm' is eroding faster than its beaches.
Noise complaint from resident gets quick response from city councilman - 12/1/08
I have lived in my home for 10 years and the noise did not bother me until the control tower was built and the flight schools took control of our city.
There is a constant overhead drone during most waking hours, punctuated by low flights over our home ever 5 to l10 minutes. Yesterday and today an aircraft with twin vertical fins and pusher engine has been over the area constantly with a noise level of a jet, only lasting longer.
I built my dream home in a charming city and expected to live out my life here, but now I must consider leaving. I do not think that thousands of New Smyrna Beach citizens should have to endure the noise for the commercial benefit of a few flight schools.
Response from city councilman
I wonder if you know when the tower was built, by the way the tower was built to maintain safety over the New Smyrna Beach area, I am seriously concerned about the Southern Building Code, (which this city operates under), if you hear loud noises, and if your home was built in the last five years. My home was built in 1979, I live in Inlet Shores, just off of the airport, and by the way I have lived here as a child since 1959 (in Inlet Shores), either I am immune to airport noise or someone is drastically exaggeratting the sound of aircraft over their homes. I think there can be a positive solution to this problem, but each party must realize that noise, whether it be from a plane, a motorcycle or other vehicle may be acceptable to some but annoying to others. We live in a world where searching for common ground should be of upmost importance. I am ready to do what I can to mediate in any manner some resolution to this problem.
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone me to assist in resolving this onging situation
ps. my cell is 386-689-4222, my land line is 386-428-8511, my e-mail is jhathaway@cityofnsb.com
Regards,
Jim Hathaway
City Commissioner Zone 3