CHARLOTTE — On Monday, the Charlotte City Council approved a vote, 8-2, to change flight patterns at Charlotte Douglas Airport, which means more neighborhoods will hear planes overhead.
As Channel 9 reported last week, some councilmembers are criticizing the airport, citing a lack of information about the potential changes. The airport released a map labeling the neighborhoods planes may fly over. Purple: Existing routes; Blue: Potential new routes.
It’s unclear how many people are aware of the changes.
Air traffic controllers said the flight pattern changes will disperse the noise and make takeoffs safer and more efficient.
“We believe that the Part 150 update is a crucial step in modernizing Charlotte’s approach to noise mitigation, land-use compatibility, airfield efficiency, most importantly safety,” said air traffic controller Chris Riddle.
While the changes won’t be made overnight, community members and airport workers said the council should have deferred the vote to tell more people about what’s happening.
“You are paving the way to triple flight paths, thus increasing the number of the planes flying over our homes in many different directions and new directions,” said resident Dianna Jaynes. “We’re asking you to not just delay the vote but take time to analyze the information.”
She added, “I definitely caution all the residents who live in the 10-mile radius of the airport to be concerned about their plans,” said Diana Jaynes before Monday night’s vote.
Jaynes lives in the Steeleberry Acres neighborhood near the airport. She said she and her neighbors deal with the airport on issues all the time and she is warning others that it’s not easy.
She’s worried some may be blindsided by additional airport noise when Part 150 officially takes effect.
“We don’t feel heard. We don’t feel seen and we definitely don’t feel protected at this point by city council,” she said.
Jaynes’ neighbor, Stephanie Lasne, said the council should read the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study.
“This is almost an 800-page document. I don’t know about you guys but I don’t have time to read an 800-page document,” said Lasne.
Charlotte Douglas officials released a statement saying that Monday night’s vote to move forward, “underscores the value placed on Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) as a significant local employer, economic engine of the Carolinas, and the seventh busiest airport in the world.”
Monday night’s vote sends the study to the FAA.
If the agency moves forward with the recommendations, there will be another study and public outreach, which will take place over the next 2-3 years.
Full statement from Charlotte Douglas:
“This evening the City Council voted to submit the Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Study Update process began with a Council Action in January 2022, and was followed by over two years of extensive analysis with aviation partners and engagement with community members. The recommendations of the Study Update are focused on air traffic safety, efficiency, sustainability, and geographically balanced distribution.
“Deliberations about a growing city and modernizing airspace can be challenging, and the thoughtful questions and comments shared by Council are a vital part of the process. Council’s vote to move the Study Update forward with the FAA underscores the value placed on Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) as a significant local employer, economic engine of the Carolinas, and the seventh busiest airport in the world.
For next steps, if the FAA moves forward with the Study Update recommendations, there will be additional study and public outreach over the next two to three years. During that time, CLT will collaborate with City Council, as well as federal, industry and community partners.”
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