A noise-reduction plan has been sent to the FAA by residents surrounding Bush Intercontinental Airport, and local congressional representatives are supporting the plan:
Speaking at a press conference at a home in the Foxwood subdivision, just north of the airport, several area congressmen challenged the FAA to join the Houston Airport System in implementing an effective noise abatement plan.
“If it can be changed at other airports, it can be changed here,” said Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
U.S. Reps. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands; Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston; and Gene Green, D-Houston, also were present and said they would push the FAA to resolve the noise problem fairly.
Residents in the 22 neighborhoods surrounding Bush have complained for the last year that noise levels have soared since the city opened a new runway.
Houston Airport System officials have said they have implemented an airport management system to reduce the number of overnight flights and have opened an additional runway to reduce traffic on the tarmac closest to residences.
Next week will mark the first anniversary of the newest east-west runway at Bush, said Hank Husky, president of the Coalition of Homeowner Alliances Requiring Government Equity, or CHARGE.
“When that runway was opened, residents in over 20 neighborhoods, including this one, began to experience aircraft noise not experienced before,” he said.
