LAKELAND, Fla. — People living around Lakeland Linder International Airport gathered for a town hall meeting on Thursday to learn more about ideas to reduce the amount of airplane noise in the neighborhoods.
The airport plans to submit those ideas to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after seeing a spike in the number of noise complaints.
“It's louder than ever,” said Craig Cummings, who lives just about a mile from Lakeland Linder International Airport. “In our house, in particular, it goes almost right over the top. So, it can be pretty loud if you're outside.”
Years ago, when they first moved here, Cummings says it was just the buzz of a few private planes. Maybe an occasional airshow.
But with Amazon now making the airport its local hub, it’s enough to rattle the windows all hours of day and night, he explains.
“I've had a few that it looks like I could look up and say something to the pilot,” Cummings said. “I feel so close sometimes.”
The airport says as the noise from the number of flights has increased, so has the number of neighbors making noise of their own in the form of complaints.
“You know we definitely want folks to comment,” said Adam Lunn, the airport’s assistant director.
After nearly two years of study, the airport is set to make recommendations. They discussed the potential changes at a public workshop, where they shared some of the flight path deviations they’ve come up with.
“We have two new approaches coming in over the city of Lakeland. So, coming in from the east, that will be approaching runway 28, and we will also have two new departure procedures, coming off of runway 10,” Lunn said. “Which also depart out to the east over the city of Lakeland.”
In short, Lakeland Linder International Airport is not about to build new runways, but they will suggest flights in and out of the area try to take a slightly different angle.
That should bring the jets over nearby warehouses and highways instead of local communities.
“Take it over the commercial areas. The warehousing district,” said neighbor Patrick Duggan. “That way, you don't have families and small children, I mean, there's babies and small children in most of these houses, you know?”
Changing those aviation angles isn’t as simple as it sounds. They have to make sure it doesn't interfere with flight paths from Tampa and Orlando airports.
But neighbors say even a few degrees could make a big difference.
“Although we appreciate the growth in the community, and we understand the economic impact, we do live here,” Cummings explains “And it certainly could be pretty drowning at times. And if we could find a reasonable solution for both parties, which I think this diversion plan could be, I think it would work out best.”
Amazon has steadily increased the number of flights in and out of Lakeland Linder International Airport in recent years. The airport also continues to look into the possibility of bringing in a commercial airline, which would likely increase noise levels as well.