CALENDAR NOTICE

PORTLAND, ORE. (July 28, 2009) – PDX Citizen Noise Advisory Committee Observes Landing Procedure Saturday

Weather permitting, members of the Portland International Airport Citizen Noise Advisory Committee will observe a special landing procedure Saturday conducted by the Oregon Air National Guard (ORANG) 142nd Fighter Wing, and airport neighbors are invited to watch.

The procedure, called a continuous descent overhead approach, is a tactical maneuver that increases pilot safety when landing in actual combat situations. With the procedure, F-15 pilots will begin their descent from a high altitude, reduce power and then circle close to the south side of the airport while landing. ORANG is seeking the committee’s recommendation and the Port of Portland’s approval to occasionally use this procedure when training at PDX.

Committee members will gather at Helensview High School, 8678 NE Sumner St., to observe the procedure occurring between 1:45-2:15 p.m. The actual landing will take only a few seconds. ORANG and Port noise management department representatives will also be on hand. If poor weather conditions occur, the event will move to Sunday. The committee has notified Portland neighborhood coalitions near the airport of the event.

The event will give the committee a second opportunity to observe the procedure and allow the noise management department to collect additional sound measurements. The committee will use this data, as well as data and information collected from the public during a previous six-month test period, to make a recommendation to the Port regarding the possible future use of this procedure.

In 2002, ORANG sought the committee and Port’s approval to train with a standard overhead approach used by Air National Guard units at other airports where they are based. Because the procedure produced sound measurements of 75-81 decibels, the committee and Port were not supportive.

Since then, ORANG has conducted its overhead approach training at other airports.  However, due to budget and operational constraints, it has become a challenge to meet training requirements. Thus, ORANG has significantly modified its original procedure, making it quieter, and is seeking approval to use the new procedure during training at PDX. The continuous descent overhead approach was designed by ORANG specifically for use at PDX to meet ORANG’s training requirements while minimizing the noise impacts to nearby residents.

Committee members observed initial tests of the new procedure in May 2008, which led to the committee and Port supporting a longer test spanning from October 2008-March 2009. During that time, sound measurements ranged from 65-70 decibels. A sound measurement of 65 decibels is comparable to two people having a conversation from about three feet apart.

The committee, noise management department staff, and ORANG will discuss their observations from Saturday at the next committee meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 in the St. Helens conference room B at the airport. The committee anticipates deciding on any recommendation at their Sept. 10 meeting. For more information, please contact the Port noise management hotline at (503) 460-4100 or (800) 938-6647.