Jackie Speier hosted a two-hour Townhall meeting at Skyline College on Tuesday night to address the issue of SFO airport noise. It was very well-attended by about 500 people from around her district with a variety of concerns. Panelists included a former United 747 captain currently on Speier's staff, airport director Ivar Satero and Peter Kirsch, an attorney known for successfully suing airports over noise issues. For those of us who are embroiled in this issue, much of the agenda was review except for Kirsch's bit that gave a great 20 minute tutorial on the laws about noise.
One challenge with such meetings is one's concerns vary based on where one sits. Pacifica residents have issues with overhead noise being more concentrated due to NextGen flight paths. My assessment of their prospects for change/improvement is not hopeful. Kirsch's legal review and insight left me with the impression that they just have to deal with it. Similarly, the San Carlos and Menlo Park residents' issues with the San Carlos airport and Surf Air were a little out of scope for the meeting and shunted off to San Mateo County officials.
Finally, after about 90 minutes, during the Q&A, B'gamer Lynn Israelit from SFORunwayNoise.com was able to ask the burning question on behalf of the large Burlingame/Hillsborough contingent present-- "What about the noise from engine run-up and take-off?" This should have been the main focus of the meeting since on-the-ground noise is solely the responsibility of the airport--not the FAA who were not present and have total authority over airborne noise. We got some insight from Satero about two kinds of ground noise: initial start-up noise and "start of roll" reflected noise. Noise from the maintenance bays was not mentioned. He also mentioned a study of ground noise from 2000 that was done. The big news was that a new study has been commissioned to update the 18 year old study, but no timing was given.
The most encouraging part of the evening was the impression Jackie Speier left of being engaged on the runway noise concerns. She was home (in Hillsborough) recovering from surgery over the summer and that meant she finally felt our pain. Windows rattling, low frequency noise, loud noise, 3 am departures--the whole panoply of problems. Now it remains to be seen if mustering her political pressure and legal pressure can result in some improvements in our quality of life and sleep.
It was really bad last night and for longer than 1:30 am.
Posted by: resident | March 11, 2019 at 10:37 PM
Taxing and engine screams, booms; 12:30-1.
I think you’re right, Holly- especially wind and inversion layers.
Posted by: Cassandra | March 12, 2019 at 08:04 AM
It was loud earlier than usual last night. Loud again at the usual time of 11:30-1am and pretty loud again this morning early.
Posted by: resident | April 10, 2019 at 07:53 AM
Yep. Lotsa booms and rumbles.
Posted by: Peter Garrison | April 10, 2019 at 03:30 PM
Wife up until 2 and awake again at 6 = airport noise. Rumbles, shudders and whines.
Posted by: Cassandra | April 11, 2019 at 09:08 PM
Here is an update from the SFORunwaynoise.com team:
The SFO Roundtable Ground-Based Noise Subcommittee met again on Tuesday March 19. To summarize the items discussed at that meeting:
- The current fencing around the perimeter of SFO is a barrier to prevent blasting of air and debris from affecting cars on 101, etc. It is not expected to a barrier for sound which may explain its "flimsy" appearance. Due to the physics of sound, a wall preventing transmission of sound is impractical and would have to be hundreds of feet high.
-New sound-canceling technology (such at that used in Bose sound-canceling headphones) is often used around construction sites and may be able to help in the future. However, SFO is at the forefront of exploring noise caused by planes on the ground, taking off, etc as opposed to overhead flights and there is very little research or other airports as examples to learn from.
-The airport is in the process of acquiring new, better sound monitors that should be better at picking up ground-based noise, lower frequency rumbling/vibrational noise, etc and we will be working to ensure that what we hear is going to be accurately measured. We will also be pressing for additional locations of monitors and asking you as a group to make suggestions as to the best placement of these monitors at some point in the near future.
-Finally, suggestions have been made about investigating materials that might be sound-absorbing that could be placed on the ground at the airport. Also, a trial to see if the angle of takeoff and the speed of takeoff could be altered to reduce the backblast that we hear in the "amphitheater" of the hills in our neighborhoods. At least one additional subcommittee meeting was added to the agenda so that work on these issues could be continued.
Posted by: Joe | April 12, 2019 at 01:34 PM
Very bad last night at 1:40 am and quite unbearable right now at 7pm on Easter.
Posted by: resident | April 21, 2019 at 07:04 PM
I think it is time to note that a full year has passed since the Speier townhall and I have not seen any action from her office. I have heard that she tried to add a rider onto an unrelated bill to address noise, but it got shot down very quickly (hearsay). I haven't seen anything else public. Anyone else seen anything?
Posted by: Joe | October 25, 2019 at 02:46 PM
Maybe one of these will get her attention?
Airport noise linked to global warming.
Whale population plummets due to airport low-frequency rumbles akin to alleged US Navy sonar damage.
Alzheimer’s blood vessel crud contains large amounts of aircraft kerosene.
Children’s school test scores plummet due to lack of sleep.
Airport noise waves causing waves in the Bay contributing to sea level rise.
Trump plans HUGE wall to stop airport noise if SFO doesn’t become
“Good neighbor.”.
Posted by: Peter Garrison | October 25, 2019 at 09:43 PM