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OSU Stage 2 Curfew
Violated. Did it awaken you?
September 24, 2009 at 11:19 pm
arriving from the west over Dublin and Columbus
and later on
September 25, 2009 at 12:07am
departing to the east
over Worthington and Columbus
A Stage 2 jet violated OSU Airport's Noise Abatement Guidelines:
"Voluntary curfew of
Stage 2 jets encouraged between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m."
The aircraft was a noisy Lear Jet 25,
tail number SKF69 operated by Kalitta, an aircraft transport provider
offering aircraft for hire.
In the past, Medflight used Kalitta jets
at OSU for medical transportation. It was the use of noisy Stage 2 jets
that generated significant numbers of noise complaints, an OSU Airport study
group of Stage 2 operations at OSU, lengthy discussions by OSU Airport
Advisory Committee and the establishment by OSU Airport of the voluntary
curfew.
It's not about what they
are doing; it's HOW it is being done.
During discussions of Stage 2 jet operations, WOOSE
learned that Lane Aviation, a fixed base operator (FBO) at Port Columbus, was
interested, available and prepared to handle medical operations. Port
Columbus has mitigated (and continues to mitigate and monitor) noise
for area residents. Port Columbus is prepared and open for medical and
Stage 2 operations 24/7. Port Columbus provides the facilities and services
to enable aircraft operators to honor OSU's Stage 2 curfew.
OSU Airport on the violation:
OSU Airport External Relations Manager
provided the following information about the problematic operations:
"The aircraft was a Lear 25 - a Stage 2 jet
- on a Lifeguard mission, meaning a life-threatening medical emergency.
Due to its excessive noise, the airport has asked aircraft with Stage
2 engines to observe a voluntary curfew from using the airport between
10 p.m. and 7 a.m. It is a voluntary
curfew, so it is the pilot or aircraft owner's discretion on whether
to observe it. Since this was a Lifeguard mission (which is noted on
the flight plan), I assume the pilot used his or her best judgment as
it related to the medical emergency." Cathy Ferrari
We support the work of Lifeguard.
It's not about what they are doing; it's HOW it is being done.
Consider the following:
1) The jet made 2 arrivals and 2 departures at OSU- that's 4 operations.
September 24th
3:00 pm arrives at OSU from Detroit, MI where Kalitta is based
4:09 pm departs OSU for Atlanta, GA
11:19 pm arrives at OSU from Atlanta
September 25th
12:06
am departs OSU for Detroit
2) Lifeguard operations
posted on Flightaware are listed in the color RED. " Lifeguard
flights are for missions of an urgent medical nature and the call sign
is utilized when a flight requires expeditious handling. Air Traffic
Control will expedite the handling of aircraft using a lifeguard prefix
to their flight identifier. Lifeguard flights operate under their own
identifier but are displayed in red on other FlightAware pages.
3)
The four operations listed above were not posted in RED
as Lifeguard flights on Flightaware. Flightaware records do not
support Ms. Ferrari's statements.
4)
In the past, problematic operations
identified as "medical operations involved returning staff to Medflight
or flying in to re-fueling helicopters w/o patients onboard.
5)
The Port Columbus Airport and their
Fix Based Operators (FBO) have the facilities, are open 24/7
and are able as well as prepared for medical transport and Stage 2 operations.
Port Columbus Airport (CMH) and its tower are open 24/7 with 2 runways
for Stage 2 jets. Port Columbus Airport has mitigated aircraft noise
for surrounding residents. The FBO at Port Columbus has experience with
medical transport.
6) Ms. Ferrari's statement
points out the limits and effectiveness of OSU's noise
abatement plan: "It is a voluntary
curfew, so it is the pilot or aircraft owner's discretion on whether
to observe it. I assume the pilot used his or her best judgment ..."
7) Violations of OSU"s Stage 2 curfew has happened before. The following links provide a brief history of another violation:
http://www.woose.org/news/
"..we want to continue to honor our original agreement with you in regards to not operating the
stage 2 aircraft between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am...we really feel that the value of our word and
our agreement .....We will continue to strive to perform the care and response people have come
to know from MedFlight but we will not sacrifice our goodwill to the community in order to do so"
http://woose.org/articles/
8)
Sound Initiative http://www.soundinitiative.
9) OSU PART 150 Consultants will be
holding public meetings next month to discuss proposed aircraft noise
abatement plans and procedures. Please keep in mind the effectiveness
OSU's current Noise Abatement Guidelines and their ability to reduce
aircraft noise and interruption.
It's not about what they are doing; it's HOW it is being done.
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