CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council voted 8-2 to submit a noise study to the Federal Aviation Administration.
It would disperse departing flights over a wider area across the city instead of certain neighborhoods.
The Part 150 Noise Compatibility study proposes increasing flight paths from eight to 27 at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport CEO Haley Gentry showed a map to city council a week ago that illustrated current and proposed flight paths.
The map does not specify streets and areas that would be affected, which Gentry said was intentional since the FAA still needs to review the plan.
“There has been no significant change to our air space modernization efforts since 1979, but yet we have quadrupled our passengers in Charlotte and our airfield traffic. This is a result of that,” Gentry said.
According to an airport spokesperson, while the implementation of divergent headings is a noise mitigation tool, it’s also expected to improve capacity and reduce delays at the airport.
Pilots, air traffic controllers, business and real estate representatives spoke before city council Monday supporting the measure.
“By voting to approve the Part 150 recommendation tonight, you’re endorsing the modernization of Charlotte's airspace, dispersing noise more effectively and enhancing overall safety. These diverging headings would represent one of the greatest non-technological advancements to safety at the Charlotte airport in the last 40 years,” Chris Riddle said.
Riddle, a representative with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the plan would improve efficiency and safety, allowing planes to turn away from each other at the end of the runway instead of having to fly side by side for two miles before they can turn away from each other.
“We can get the airplanes off the ground faster, which means they're not sitting there burning fuel. You can get to your gates quicker. There's just a lot of benefit to the modernization of the Charlotte airport,” Riddle said.
Some residents who spoke before the council asked leaders to delay the vote.
Residents of Steeleberry Acres, a neighborhood with frequent plane noise, spoke up.
“If you vote yes, you are paving the way to triple flight paths and thus increasing the number of planes flying over our homes in many different directions and new directions. We're asking you to not just delay the vote, but take time to analyze the information that is contained within its pages,” Dianna Jaynes said.
Steeleberry Acres is 12 minutes from the airport.
“We have been in this fight for a really long time so we have even become… desensitized to the noise, at least during the day,” Jaynes said.
Jaynes said she chose to live in that neighborhood because of the mature trees, large yards and open space.
“This is something that will never be replicated ever again in the city of Charlotte,” Jaynes said.
She wanted the council to delay their vote.
“It goes beyond the noise. Now we're talking about property values. We're talking about impacts to the environment. We are talking about increased noise and increased traffic over our homes, especially late at night,” Jaynes said.
Stephanie Lasne said process showed lack of communication and lack of transparency.
“We have not had the time to fully evaluate this, and we need to get down to the granular level with the public. If I live at one, two, three Main Street, I need to know how that is going to impact me and my family. What does my quality of life look like?” Lasne said.
After residents spoke, some council members chimed in before voting.
District 2 Rep. Malcolm Graham voiced his support for the change.
“Just as we are growing and expanding on the ground, we are growing and expanding in the area as well. And I think we're doing it in a very responsible way. Obviously everyone won't be happy with the results, but it's the airport. It's not just a city asset, although it’s controlled, owned and operated by the city of Charlotte. It's a regional gem that supports, almost 16 counties in the region. Employment opportunities, economic development opportunities,” Graham said.
District 6 Rep. Tariq Bokhari and District 4 Rep. Renee Johnson voted against submitting the study to the FAA.
“I don't discount the importance to the airport and the importance to the future of that really important asset of ours. But I believe there will be a day, depending on what route this goes, where there will be an outpouring of anger and frustration to this very dais of people who are saying what happened? How did you allow this to happen?” Johnson said.
Since Gentry gave a presentation about the proposal a week ago, Bokhari expressed his concerns about not having the specifics of where the future flight paths would go.
“That blue is absolutely covering what could potentially be, you know, 50,000 to 60,000 of the residents that lived in my district alone. So this is not a decision I take lightly at all. I know the importance of the airport, but that's a lot of people right there,” Bokhari said.
Meanwhile, Edmund Driggs, the representative for District 7, has been vocal in support of the proposal.
“I recognize there is a need for us to accommodate the growth of the airport and the city, and to support the contributions that the airport makes to the city. Inevitably, as we expand the capacity of the airport, there is the likelihood that more people will be affected by aircraft noise than before,” Driggs said.
According to airport officials, analysis with aviation partners and engagement with community members have been ongoing for two years to reach this point.
Jaynes said she understands changes at the airport are needed. She said she learned about the study this summer when a community organization brought it up.
“I understand that there is a purpose for this, but we just want this process to be transparent. We want to understand where we are and how we're going to be impacted. And I believe that the citizens of Charlotte deserve that,” Jaynes said.
The study will be submitted to the FAA where an environmental process and additional community feedback will be gathered.
If approved, the implementation of new flight procedures will go into effect early 2027 before the opening of the new fourth parallel runway.