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NOISE/ENV'L OFFICE MEMO <br />September 5, 2011 <br />TO: Kathy Ornelas, City of San Leandro <br />FROM: Larry Galindo, Noise and Environmental Affairs Supervisor <br />SUBJECT: USCG Flights Noise Control - OAK <br />Noise Forum 7/20111 Meeting <br />At the July 20, 2011, meeting of the OAK Airport - Community Noise Forum concerns from San <br />Leandro Residents were heard over continuing noise from USCG training flights @ OAK. <br />The main issue was over flights of the Davis West and Timothy Drive neighborhoods, which are <br />located directly under the final approach path to the airport, <br />Commander Harper Phillips of the USCG based in San Francisco was in attendance and addressed <br />the Noise Forum on the concerns expressed. Being newly appointed Commander Phillips heard <br />the local complaints and agreed to commit to on-going efforts with the OAK Noise Office staff <br />to do their best to control noise. <br />The Noise Office reported that efforts had been taken with the FAA and USCG to encourage <br />use of the airport's runway 29 to keep USCG helicopters over the water and reduce noise to the <br />noise sensitive areas of Timothy Drive and Davis West. However, at this point the USCG has not <br />used 29 and continues to fly ILS approaches to runway 27R. <br />On-Going Follow Up Efforts <br />Following the July 20th Noise Forum meeting, the Noise Office met with the USCG to <br />further discuss helicopter noise procedures, with a focus on ILS training. Due to the <br />multiple operations necessary to keep USCG pilots current on their pilot certification <br />requirements, the airport and local FAA ATC have sought to_ encourage use of runway <br />29 in the interests of noise abatement. The FAA has approved use of 29 for helicopter <br />training at certain times of the day where there is minimum airline flight activity. <br />Apparently some USCG pilots have refused to use runway 29 for fear of wake vortex <br />and or mixing with high speed airline traffic. During the recent meeting, airport FAA ATC <br />consultant, Harvey Hartmann explained that during certain periods of the day, operations are <br />favorable due to low traffic. Commander Phillips agreed to undertake more effort to encourage use <br />of runway 29. A meeting with USCG pilots is being planned to go over OAK noise procedures and to <br />discuss the noise benefits of shifting ILS operations during certain daytime hours to runway 29. <br />cc- Rob Forester, Chairman North Field Research Group <br />