Members of CommunityAIR (CAIR) had a good meeting with Mayor David Miller, and Councillors Adam Vaughan and Pam McConnell on July 10th.

CAIR members let the politicians know that there were an increasing number of complaints about curfew violations and the level of noise from the airport by residents along the Waterfront.  This came through loud and clear at the packed July 2^nd meeting held by Community AIR and other community groups.  Some of the small planes and helicopters create excessive noise, but the most common complaint was with Porter Airlines.

The general feeling of most members of the community was that noise had become much worse over the summer.  Not only are there constant complaints about noise from the landing and take-off of Porter Q400 aircraft, but engine maintenance run-ups have become a special problem.

It was also pointed out to the politicians that the Q400 plane flown by Porter exceeds the decibel limits permitted by the Tripartite Agreement and based on the International Civil Aviation Authority set out on their website.

The politicians were also told that Porter Airlines had violated the Island Airport curfew on at least seventeen occasions from March 9^th to June 29 when aircraft had landed or taken off after the 11pm or before the 6:45am curfew hours.  These violations are clearly against the Tripartite Agreement that regulates the operations of the airport.

Brian Iler, the chair of CommunityAIR, pointed out that although medivac emergency flights are exempt from the curfew, they often fly back to the Island Airport after curfew after they have delivered patients to hospitals.  That is not an emergency and it is a clear violation of the regulations.  (Even the former Minister of Health George Smitherman has said that the medivac planes should be located north of the city, not at the Island Airport, but the province is locked into a long term lease with the TPA.)

All of the politicians at the meeting expressed concern about these violations of the Tripartite Agreement.  David Miller said that he had personally received a number of complaints about noise at the Island Airport and took them very seriously. 

Miller pointed out that the federal government played a key role in regulating airports and urged citizens to send their complaints to the Minister of Transport. 

He went on to say that, if the violations are confirmed, he would do everything he could to ensure that the terms of the Tripartite Agreement are adhered to.  CommunityAIR members committed to providing the necessary documentation.

Log Complaints with the TPA on line form:

http://www.torontoport.com/Airport_Cform.asp   Tick the box requesting a copy be sent to you.

Or call: Noise Management Office at 416-203-8490

Send a copy of your complaint to:

Mayor David Miller                mayor_miller@toronto.ca                        phone: 416-397-2489

Councillor Adam Vaughan     councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca             phone: 416-392-4044

Councillor Pam McConnell     councillor_mcconnell@toronto.ca          phone: 416-392-7916

Minister of Transportation       Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca                             phone: 1-613-992-5516

Chair of Toronto Port Authority Board        mmcqueen@wellingtonfund.com