PDK WATCH NEWSLETTER                             May 1999

 

PDK Watch’s purpose is to protect and assure the future of our established residential neighborhoods and quality of life in the area affected by PDK Airport.

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Airport Director Wants to Say “Come on down!” to 730+ Heavier Planes.

Do You Want this Additional Air Traffic over Your Home?

 

Yes, you are correct. The planes over your home are bigger and heavier.  For many years there has been a county policy that planes landing or taking off at PDK could not exceed 66,000 pounds.  In 1988 the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in their decision upholding the runway extension without an environmental impact study (C.A.R.E. Now, Inc. vs. FAA) decreed, “. . . Furthermore, the proposal expressly maintains the current weight limitation of 66,000 pounds.  The proposed runway extension is not designed to accommodate operations by aircraft larger that the ones currently using PDK.”  This was in response to the community’s  “. . . fear that the runway extension will cause a significant impact because of the introduction of larger types of aircraft and heavier aircraft.”  The Part 150 Noise Study Update in 1998 also refers to this limit.

Airport Director Lee Remmel surprised the Airport Advisory Board on March 10, 1999, during their discussion concerning the weight limit policy, by announcing that county staff  had recently discovered a 1976 DeKalb County ordinance which requires prior authorization for aircraft over 75,000 pounds to use the airport.

In spite of existing county policy and law, Airport Director Remmel informed the FAA in a January 27 letter that their publications have an incorrect weight limitation of 66,000 pounds and “that Runway 20L should be listed as 105,000 pounds dual wheel weight.”  In a memo dated April 7, 1999, CEO Liane Levetan attempted to clarify “the CEO’s administrative weight limitation” but succeeded in confounding the issue further.  At the Airport Advisory Board meeting on April 14, 1999, Director Remmel indicated that he intends to write to every owner of an airplane weighing between 66,000 and 105,000 pounds preauthorizing their use of PDK.  This letter would open up the airport to more than 730 heavier planes.

Since a recent court ruling clarified that the Board of Commissioners sets policy and the CEO enforces their policy:

 

· Why are CEO Levetan and Director Remmel taking actions

   that violate policy set by the Board?

 

· When will CEO Levetan instruct Director Remmel to follow

   the policy set by the Board of Commissioners?

 

CEO Levetan needs to hear from us.  Write or call.                   CEO Liane Levetan

1300 Commerce Drive

Decatur GA 30030.

404-371-2881

 

Let her know that you expect her to enforce the policy and  laws she swore to uphold.

 


Action Needed Now to Protect Our Neighborhoods from PDK Expansion

 

A runway gets lengthened, heavier planes are allowed, and land is bought.  This incremental erosion of our neighborhoods and quality of life puts us on the road to Hartsfield North.

CEO Liane Levetan, Commissioners, and Airport Director Lee Remmel continually tell the citizens of DeKalb County there is no plan to make PDK a commercial airport with regularly scheduled passenger and cargo service. However, an April 22, 1999, letter from the Federal Aviation Administration says, “A stated policy of no scheduled cargo or passenger service at the airport would be in conflict with grant assurances signed by the County when accepting Federal funds.”

An ordinance (county law) stating no scheduled cargo or passenger service at the airport would prevent regularly scheduled service. If our elected officials are truly serious about PDK not becoming commercial, then they should make their policy into law by passing an ordinance that prohibits regularly scheduled service at PDK.  Write your commissioners today and urge them to take the lead in getting an ordinance in place to protect our neighborhoods and quality of life.

Commissioners whose district include PDK Airport are Elaine Boyer, Gale Walldorff, and Judy Yates.  Their address is 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur GA 30030.

 

ANOMS - An Opportunity for Airport to Be Proactive in Reducing Noise

 

PDK Airport has begun installing ANOMS (Airport Noise and Monitoring System).   These monitoring devices, being placed at several sites around the airport, will allow the airport staff to identify noisy aircraft.  However, the airport staff has no written procedure for dealing with intrusive noise created by users of PDK Airport.  With this new system the airport can work toward reducing noise by taking the initiative to identify offenders and deal with them effectively.  Here is an opportunity for CEO Liane Levetan to show leadership by directing the airport staff to write an effective policy for noise reduction.

 

PDK Watch Needs Your Support

 

PDK Watch is grateful to those of you who send in a check to help with the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter.  To contribute to this fund, please make a check payable to Sven O. Lovegren and note on the check that it is for PDK Watch.  Then please mail to:

 

Sven Lovegren

Attn.: PDK Watch

2331 Annapolis Court

Atlanta GA 30345

 

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