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Airport commissioner urges Indian Wells residents to file noise complaints after new approach increased overflights
Summary
An appointed Palm Springs Airport commissioner told the Indian Wells City Council the FAA’s June 2025 instrument approach has increased airline traffic over Indian Wells; he urged residents to submit airport noise comments and attend a Jan. 21 noise committee meeting.
Phil Valdez, an appointed Palm Springs Airport commissioner, briefed the Indian Wells City Council on Jan. 15 about recent airport trends and a flight-path change he said had increased overflights of Indian Wells.
Valdez explained that the airport lacks a full Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility, limiting international arrivals, and that recent route changes have shifted some traffic. He described a relatively new instrument approach (installed around June 2025) used by airlines that has routed more commercial traffic over Indian Wells and showed maps of approach tracks.
"This is a relatively new approach...and this is probably about the time when everybody started to notice all the traffic overhead," Valdez said, urging residents concerned about noise to use the airport’s noise-comment form so the airport and noise committee can register and quantify complaints. He also noted a noise-committee meeting scheduled for Jan. 21 at the airport’s second-floor meeting room and said he would brief the noise-committee chair on the same material.
Valdez described airport improvements and constraints: projected seat totals for 2026 were modestly higher year-over-year; renovations (including restroom upgrades and 40 EV charging stalls) are planned; and the administration is discussing expanded customs capability with federal officials with the goal of improving international service ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic period.
Why it matters: Residents reported increased airplane noise and counts during the latter half of 2025. The commissioner’s briefing framed next steps for residents (submit formal noise comments and attend the noise committee meeting) and for the city (coordinate with the airport and regional stakeholders).
The airport presentation asked residents to do two things: submit online noise comments (which feed into the airport noise committee process) and attend the Jan. 21 meeting to voice concerns. City leaders indicated they will share the noise-comment link in a mayor’s note.
