Hello and Happy New Year to all,

I too am discouraged by the TPA's handling of the "comprehensive noise management study". It would be nice if someone from the TPA that might be reading this could explain the process to area residents and also explain why there has been next to zero public involvement. It is NO secret that I am an airport supporter but a large part of my support is predicated on the "assumption" that the TPA will operate the facility with appropriate consideration to the affects on the neighboring communities. This would include open, clear and thorough consultation on matters that are of obvious significance - like noise. Until I hear a good explanation from the TPA, the handling of the noise study can only be characterized as disappointing and unacceptable.

Regarding the matter of moving engine maintenance runs to another airport, there are some limitations to this idea. In general, maintenance is carried out at an airlines base or hub since just about every aircraft will, at one point or another, pass through that facility. In the case of Porter, the Island airport is their base which includes their primary maintenance facility. If maintenance is carried out at the Island airport, the aircraft would usually require the engine maintenance run "prior" to being able to fly anywhere. This explains why most maintenance runs occur overnight as the aircraft have completed their daily rotations and a repair needs to be verified prior to the next flight. Since you aren't going to see any Dash 8s on flatbed trucks, there is no way to get the aircraft to another location for the maintenance run. IF the maintenance was completed elsewhere (Pearson, Ottawa etc...) then the accompanying engine run would be completed at that airport.

I don't know what Porter's plans are regarding future maintenance facilities but as their fleet continues to grow, the maintenance infrastructure will need to keep up. To that end, IF Porter were to establish a second maintenance base somewhere else, that alone would have the desirable effect of at least reducing engine runs at the Island airport. Irrespective of whether the maintenance is planned or unplanned, the key issue is the location of where the actual maintenance is taking place.

Given the extreme opposition that exists in the community, I believe the TriPartite Agreement should be amended to restrict engine maintenance runs to normal airport operating hours.

Take Care!
Joe