Watching the TPA…

Your noise complaints have had some effect. 

• Porter flight 258, scheduled to leave Ottawa at 4 p.m. on January 5h, didn’t leave until after midnight and was diverted to Pearson.  This would not have happened had you fine folks who live in the backyard of the airport not complained about previous flights that brazenly landed while you tried to sleep. 

• Porter Flight 418 scheduled to leave Montreal daily at 21:15 (that’s 9:15 in the evening to me) was diverted to Pearson on the 19th of December.  What’s even more interesting is that POE 418 didn’t fly again until the 8th of January 2009.  Maybe the weather or Christmas kept this flight on the ground.   Hmm?

• Remember POE 132 that flew from Newark at 9:30 pm every night and frequently broke curfew?  Remember how Porter changed this flight’s departure to 8:30 pm in order to prevent further breaches or to divert to Pearson?  Well, on the 22nd and 23rd of December it was diverted to Pearson.  Just like on the September 26th and 28th, November 6th, 13th and 16th.   See how your complaints have been heard?

• Of course not all “breachers” of curfew are Porter.  Let’s be fair.  It seems Pilatus PC 12 NG’s are landing after hours these days.  Are these ORNGE flights, which are permitted, real emergencies?    How does the Port Authority verify that?   I wonder.

• I note in the TPA Summary complaint forms from October 2008 that the TPA does take note of noise violations.  In fact I see that they have responded a few times by saying, “Porter Airlines fined for unjustified arrival after curfew”.  You are being heard!  But they are very silent on the Avanti Piaggio 180 - which has attracted numerous complaints.  Here is a picture http://news.webshots.com/photo/2586163600014879258tSJZVH if you heard and thought you saw a jet.  Not surprisingly, it has been banned from the Santa Monica airport, which like ours,  is crammed into a residential neighbourhood - read this from Boeing: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/noise/santa_monica.html (scroll to the bottom of the page if you are keen) the emphasis is mine, of course:

WARNING
LISTED BANNED AIRCRAFT
The following aircraft have been shown to be unable to meet the SENEL noise limit of 95.0 dBA:

Avanti Piaggio P180(I&II), Aero Delfin L-29, BAC Jet Provost, North American B-17, B-25, Casa Saeta, De Havilland Vampire, Venom, Sea Vixon, Douglas DC-9 and A-4 Skyhawk, English Electric Lightning, Folland Gnat, Fouga CM 170 Magister, Gates Learjet 23, 24B, 24BA, 24D, 24E, 25, 25B, 25D, 25F, 28, Gloster Meteor, Grumman F9F Panther/Couger, Gulfstream II, IIB, III, Hansa HFB320, Hawker Hunter, Jet Commander 1121, IAI Westwind 1123, HS1235-1A, 3A, Lockheed T-33/Canadian Silver Star, Lockheed F-1-4 Starfighter, Lockheed 1329 Jetstar, VC-121A Constellation, Morane Sauliner Paris II, Mikoyan Gurevich MIG 15, MIG 17, MIG 19, MIG 21, North American F86/Canadair CL-13 Sabre, North American Rockwell Saberliner 39, 40A, 60, 60A, 70, 75, 80. These aircraft shall be permanently excluded from operating at Santa Monica after one violation and be subject to misdemeanor prosecution

Banned from Santa Monica,. if you remember…
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=CL_UKSMdW-0

That’s it from me.  Luke Skywatcher

(What will the Skywatcher find next?)