The roar of jetplanes overhead may become a quaint memory for folks on Capitol Hill and in the Central District, thanks to a new test project by the Federal Aviation Administration. The test, which changes up the flight patterns and landing procedures for incoming planes, could also mean greener, more efficient flying overall. A win-win situation if there ever was one, and a pleasant shift from what looked like a seemingly hopeless situation for noise beleaguered residents in the area.
Used with permission.
As The Seattle Times reports, the tests use satellite signals to guide planes down Sea-Tac’s runway and glide the plane down to a landing by idling its engines, saving precious jet fuel and lowering harmful emissions. And of the greatest impact to Cap Hill and Central District residents: incoming planes from the south that need to bypass Sea-Tac and turn around for landing will no longer pass over North Seattle neighborhoods. Instead, flight paths will take incoming planes over Elliott Bay, restoring peace to our jet-shaken neighborhoods.
The test landing procedures saw the light of day briefly in 2009, as the Seattle Times reported. The new tests are part of a fuller launch, which the Times details further below:
The so-called “Greener Skies Over Seattle” flight trials will continue for up to six months, involving some of the passenger flights flown by Alaska Air, Horizon Air, US Airways and SkyWest. The aircraft-navigation technology was pioneered by Alaska Airlines, which in 2009 used the system on late-night test flights into Sea-Tac — without paying passengers. The FAA project is part of a massively complicated and expensive revamp of the U.S. air traffic control system — known nationally as NextGen — that must be implemented airport by airport. The new technologies and procedures have to work alongside the current ground-based aircraft-navigation system. And they must be introduced without a pause, much less a disruption, to the immense flow of daily air traffic in U.S. skies.
The procedure will cut 14 to 26 miles of flying for incoming planes, reducing jet noise for 750,000 North Seattle residents. The new routes and procedures are projected to completely open for all flights early next year.
Hat tip to our neighbors at the Montlaker for bringing this update on the ongoing changes to Sea-Tac flight patterns to our attention.
I’m in the South Judkins Park area and last night was generally a bit louder and more frequent. Has this gone into effect yet? If so, I’m calling bull on this claim.
and yes, maybe this is why I overslept?
I’m seeing (or more correctly, hearing) it as less quiet but also the flyovers seem less frequent
We are north of I-90 and can see the planes banking south of us. This is a huge improvement in noise when they usually fly straight over us.
yes
Seems like this should work. In DC, they brings the birds in low and tight to the potomac and veer right just before the washington Monument to land at Reagan. Turning slightly earlier at Elliot Bay seems like a piece of cake.