BRIDGEPORT — Two Bridgeport residents sick of overhead jet noise have teamed up with a Northwest Side group that's been fighting for the same thing: peace and quiet.
"There's strength in numbers. It's one problem even though it's two different airports. And the solution is the same for both — the city needs to represent the interests of the people who live here and not the interests of the airlines," said Kevin Robinson, 37.
Robinson and neighbor Cori Stankowicz joined the Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition, a group that's trying to curb jet noise in neighborhoods near O'Hare, because, as Stankowicz put it, "they seemed to really be the only community-led organization that was trying to do anything, not even fighting, but trying to work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the city and trying to get anything done.
"There are a lot of people like me who are saying 'Hey, are we doing anything about this?" Stankowicz said.
Casey Cora says the South Siders are hoping to utilize the North Side organization's knowledge of dealing with the FAA:
At issue for the South Siders is the abundance of new jet noise stemming from the Federal Aviation Administration's creation of a new flight path that opened in early February, one that guides jets from Lake Michigan to Midway's Runway 22L.
The planes are generally supposed to follow Interstate 55, but many Bridgeport residents say the jets are soaring directly over residential areas.
"This massive shift puts the burden of noise, fuel, air and visual pollution almost solely on the residents and businesses of these neighborhoods," the runway group said in a statement.
Now the group — with its new South Side additions — is hoping to put some teeth into the Fly Quiet program, a city aviation department initiative that aims to cut down on jet noise by having pilots fly over unpopulated areas like highways, industrial areas and forest preserves.
They're also hoping to expand noise abatement solutions like sound insulation rebates and noise monitoring programs to neighborhoods like Bridgeport, McKinley Park and Brighton Park.
"We need a seat at the table, to sit down on equal footing with the city's department of aviation and the FAA so that we don't have low-flying aircraft screaming over the neighborhood," Robinson said.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the new flight path was changed from its previous route — which took northbound planes over the Far South Side, then button-hooked over Brighton Park on its descent into Midway — because it now "goes over fewer residences, is a safer straight-in line, reduces fuel burn, and saves time for the traveler."
Since the new flight path took effect, airline-related noise complaints have soared — a total of 594 noise complaints were logged from April through June, up from 183 in the first quarter of 2014, which covered January through March and includes February's debut of the new flight path.
Stankowicz said she's expecting more noise as Midway continues to get "busier and busier."
"And as we see Midway get busier," she said, "we see future problems."
Any South Side residents looking for more information about joining up with Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition are encouraged to visit the group's official website and Facebook page.
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