Central Idaho airport works on noise problems

HAILEY (AP) - The manager of an airport in central Idaho that serves the resort areas of Ketchum and Sun Valley said efforts will be made to reduce airplane noise following complaints.

Friedman Memorial Airport Manager Rick Baird told Airport Authority board members last week that he'll post the airport's noise abatement guidelines more prominently on the airport's website.

The Idaho Mountain Express reported that Baird also said officials will draft a technical report on how the airport's approach path relates to residential areas.

The airport in Hailey drew 16 complaints between January and August, but that's down from 24 from the same period last year.

"The planes have been departing over our heads much more often than they did in the past," said Donna Serrano, a resident of a subdivision at the north end of Bellevue, a town a few miles south of Hailey.

The airport that receives federal funds is required to stay open 24 hours a day. But airport guidelines ask pilots to only fly between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., and to fly to the east of Bellevue when coming in to land and to the west of Bellevue when taking off. Pilots of large planes are asked not to fly to the north of Hailey.

"I don't know of anyone who disregards the noise abatement for their pleasure or their convenience," said board Chairman and private pilot Ron Fairfax.

Baird estimates that fewer than 50 flights a year violate the time restriction request, and most of those are emergency medical flights.

"I think the system works, because over the years we've taught pilots to be aware of these noise-sensitive times," he said.

One change among pilots that could cause a problem is that many use instrument-based approaches, which requires a more direct path to the airport rather than flying over less populated areas.

"More (private) jet owners have established policies that require their pilots to fly instruments ground to ground," Baird said.

Another change that has unclear ramifications is Delta Air Lines changing from 28-seat Embraer Brasilia turboprop planes in January to 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 jets to fly its Sun Valley to Salt Lake City route.

Baird said the jets are quieter than the turboprops, but they also use more instrument-based approaches to the airport.