Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Noise And Flight Patterns topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middleton commission says resident reports logged; staff finds flight activity follows FAA procedures
Summary
Residents on Ellington Way emailed complaints about low or intentional overflights; staff told the commission that logged reports show no regulatory violations and that many flights follow published instrument and noise‑abatement procedures. Commissioners asked staff to send a written reply clarifying prior responses and limits of city authority.
At a July meeting, the Middleton Airport Commission reviewed recent complaints from Ellington Way residents who said aircraft were flying low over their neighborhood and, in some correspondence, accused pilots of intentional harassment. Brian, the city liaison, told commissioners two residents emailed concerns that were included in the meeting record and asked staff to respond in writing.
Rich, the airport manager, reported that between May 28 and June 28 five individuals filed 12 noise/overflight reports and in July six individuals filed another 11 reports; one person filed 10 of the 23 complaints. ‘‘No violations of regs were apparent in any of the reports,’’ Rich said, adding that the aircraft appeared to be following voluntary noise‑abatement procedures and pattern altitudes. He explained that instrument approaches can place aircraft below standard pattern altitude near local topography, which can appear alarming to neighbors.
Commissioners emphasized both the sensitivity of the term ‘‘harassment’’ and the need to make clear what the city can — and cannot — do. Commissioner David Schafer urged staff to confirm whether the residents’ letters had received prior responses and suggested the commission include that clarification in any letter back to neighbors. Brian said he has previously sent a detailed email explaining noise‑abatement procedures and would work with the manager to prepare a response to the most recent letter.
Several commissioners recommended that the city point residents to the airport FAQ and state plainly that operations in federally controlled airspace are governed by FAA rules. ‘‘If there’s no evidence of an operational violation, the city should explain that the airport investigated and that aircraft were operating within federally regulated airspace and published procedures,’’ Brian said.
The commission did not direct any operational change but asked staff to prepare a written reply that documents past responses and restates the noise‑abatement expectations. That reply will be prepared after staff compiles the complaint logs and past correspondence.
What’s next: Staff will assemble past correspondence and prepare a written response to the Ellington Way residents; the commission asked that document be shared with members before it is sent.
