A group of local elected officials, including both Rep. Tom Suozzi (D–Glen Cove) and Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R–Island Park), sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration in a continued effort to address air traffic effects on residents.
“Airplane noise continues to impact communities around JFK, specifically those under the typical flight path for an airplane approaching runway 22L/R,” Suozzi said. “Many of these neighborhoods experience almost constant noise pollution from flights overhead, including some constituents who wake up to airplanes as early as 4:30 a.m. and go to sleep with plane noise in the background past midnight.”
Signing off on the letter alongside Suozzi and D’Esposito were District 7 State Sen. Jack Martins (R–Old Westbury), North Hempstead District 2 Councilman Ed Scott, East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, Old Brookville Mayor Bernard Ryba and Brookville Mayor Daniel Serota.
“It has been well-established that low-flying planes, aside from a nuisance, are a substantial threat to the health and well-being of our residents,” Martins wrote to Schenps Media. “Working with every level of government and from both sides of the political aisle, we will continue to press for the changes we need to keep our communities safe.”
The letter requests the aviation administration to reimplement a 2019 agreement that requires planes to be at or above 3,000 feet when approaching JFK runway 22L/R until they are within 15 miles, and a continuous descent procedure into that runway starting at 4,000 feet when 12 nautical miles away and at an angle of 3 degrees.
Suozzi, who co-chaired the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus in 2017, said these procedures could be implemented “immediately.”
The congressman said the 2019 agreement was implemented but “abandoned” about 18 months later. He said planes are now flying at about 2,000 feet before they come within 15 miles of the airport, which he added contributes to community disturbances.
The 22L/R flight path was used for almost half of all arriving flights from July 2022 to July 2023, according to the letter, which cited data from the Port Authority.
The letter, which was sent to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker and Eastern Region Administrator Marie Kennington-Gardiner also suggests two approaches to mitigate noise.
This included runway dispersal, which would reduce the number of flights coming into the runway, and flight path dispersal to reduce the amount of flights over specific communities.
The letter states that airplane noise exposure also contributes to rising rates of stress, which they claim can increase the risks of heart disease.
Air traffic concerns have been an issue plaguing local communities for well over a decade. Multiple villages and civic associations have taken steps to approach the issue themselves after years of prolonged problems.
“I would like to thank Congressman Suozzi for taking the lead on this most important quality of life issue,” Ryba wrote in a village newsletter. “Along with Congressman D’Esposito and State Senator Martins, I will continue to lend my efforts to help reach a solution with the FAA regarding the frequency and altitude of arriving JFK flights over Old Brookville.”
Old Brookville is located about 17 miles from JFK airport, and Ryba said it is “unacceptable” for low-flying planes to constantly fly over the village.
“I am happy to work with our civic leaders and our village, town, city, county and federal partners in this effort and will continue to do so until we get the changes we need,” Martins wrote.
The Town of North Hempstead recently also led a county-wide petition against the FAA for the administration to address low-flying planes, excessive air traffic noise and pollution. The towns threatened a lawsuit if the aviation administration fails to respond within 90 days, which would be at the beginning of October.
The recent letter sent by the group of elected officials stressed the urgency of the issue.
“We urge the FAA to act quickly and creatively within the parameters of safe airspace operation to mitigate the impacts of airplane noise on the lives of our constituents,” the letter concludes. “Since we were previously able to find a compromise that accomplished both of these goals, we are hopeful that the FAA will once again work with us to develop a long-term solution to this ongoing issue.”