Overview

SFO Airport/Community Roundtable
Meeting No. 293 Overview
Wednesday, April 1 2015

1. Call to Order / Roll Call / Declaration of a Quorum Present

Roundtable Chairperson, Cliff Lentz, called the Regular Meeting of the SFO Airport / Community Roundtable to order, at approximately 7:06 p.m., in the David Chetcuti Community Room at the Millbrae City Hall. James A. Castañeda, AICP, Roundtable Coordinator, called the roll. A quorum (at least 12 Regular Members) was present as follows:

REGULAR MEMBERS PRESENT

REGULAR MEMBERS ABSENT

ADVISORY MEMBERS PRESENT

ROUNDTABLE STAFF

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT STAFF

 

2. 2013-2014 Jon C. Long Fly Quiet Awards

Bert Ganoung, Noise Abatement Manager, introduced the recipients of 2013-2014 Fly Quiet Awards. Air China received the “Most Improved Airline” award, Compass Airline (who flies regional service for Delta Airlines at SFO) received “Quietest Overall Airline,” and Air New Zealand was awarded the “Chairperson’s Award”. Representatives from Air China and Compass Airlines were present to accept their awards, and Air New Zealand will be receiving theirs at a later date.

 

3. Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda

Several residents from the Santa Cruz area were present to express concern over new aircraft noise over their communities. Eric Rupp reported a constant stream of aircraft overhead on March 5, 2015, and expressed general concern over this new impact that was not present before. Sylvia Skefich indicated that the noise experienced from overhead flights is disruptive for meditating in the forest areas. Grant Weseman and Jo Ellen Smith also reported heavy aircraft overflights on March 5, 2015, and expressed concern of the new flight paths over those who live on the hilltop areas of Santa Cruz. Doreen Gotelli, a South San Francisco resident, reported issues with the noise insulated windows that were installed as part of the noise insulation program, that have failed. She indicated that there should be a fund established for the upkeep of windows installed as a result of the noise insulation program.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

4. Review of Airport Director’s Reports for January and February 2015

5. Review of Roundtable Regular Meeting Overview for December 3, 2014

DISCUSSION: None.

ACTION: Rich Newman MOVED the approval of the Consent Agenda. The motion was seconded by Julian Chang and CARRIED, unanimously.

 

REGULAR AGENDA

 

6. Airport Director’s Comments

Airport Public, John Martin, provided a brief update on the airport’s current operations. Passenger traffic at SFO continues to grow at approximately 5% in the last month. The airport is continuing to put emphasis in the Fly Quiet program, specifically in the night time procedures. Portable noise monitors are currently deployed in the communities of Portola Valley and Woodside.

DISCUSSION: Town of Atherton Representative and Roundtable Vice-Chairperson, Elizabeth Lewis, asked how many noise monitoring stations exist. Bert Ganoung, Noise Abatement Manager, indicated that a total of 29 permanent noise monitors exist, and four portable monitors exist to be deployed. At the request of Chairperson Lentz, Mr. Ganoung explained the procedures of requesting deployment of portable noise monitors in a community.

 

REGULAR AGENDA – WORK PROGRAM ITEMS

 

7. Update, FAA’s PORTE Departure Analysis

Roundtable Coordinator, James Castañeda, provided an update on the formation of the two new standing subcommittees and indicated they are now referred as “Departures Technical Working Group” for communities impacted by departing flights from SFO, and “Arrivals Technical Working Group” for communities impacted by arriving flight traffic. Mr. Castañeda asked for Roundtable members to volunteer to serve on these two working groups. City of Pacifica Representative, Sue Digre; City of South San Francisco Representative, Mark Addiego; City of Brisbane Representative and Roundtable Chairperson Lentz; and City of Daly City Representative, Raymond Buenaventura, volunteered to serve on the Departures Technical Working Group. Town of Atherton Representative and Roundtable Vice-Chairperson Lewis; Town of Portola Valley Representative, Ann Wengert; Town of Woodside Representative, Dave Burrow; and City of Foster City Representative, Steve Okamoto, volunteered to serve on the Arrivals Technical Working Group.

 

8. Update, PORTE Departure Analysis

Noise Abatement Manager Bert Ganoung provided a brief update as to recent aircraft performance utilizing the PORTE departure.

 

9. Update, Oceanic Arrivals over the Woodside VOR

Noise Abatement Manager Bert Ganoung provided a brief update on oceanic arrival flights over the Woodside VOR.

 

10. Update, Metroplex

Roundtable Technical Consultant, Paul Dunholter, provided an overview of the recent Metroplex procedures that has started to be implemented, specifically the SERFR, SSTIK, and NIITE.

DISCUSSION: Burlingame Representative, Ricardo Ortiz, asked how vectoring will be reduced as part of Time Based spacing as explained as part of Mr. Dunholter’s overview. Mr. Dunholter explained that spacing occurs enroute and should eliminate vectoring once within the airport’s vicinity at a specified time. Pacifica Representative, Sue Digre, requested that future maps have cities outline for easier identification. Town of Hillsborough Representative, Shawn Christianson, asked how the FAA will go about making refinements to the procedures and taking feedback. Mr. Dunholter indicated that it is likely that the FAA will evaluate the performance of the procedures that were rolled out, and make modifications where necessary based on their evaluations. Chairperson Lentz asked to have further explanation of the SURFR procedure over Santa Cruz, and what the difference is from the past. Mr. Dunholter explained with some illustrations showing the paths of both before and after implementation of the SURFR procedure, and indicated that it is possible that the FAA rational for implementation was considered to be an optimized path to reduce radar vectoring.

Town of Woodside Representative, Dave Burrow, asked if any measures to fan out traffic as part of Metroplex procedures have been implemented. Roundtable Technical Consultant, Harvey Hartmann, indicated that he was not aware of such, yet. Vice-Chairperson Lewis expressed that issues with NextGen/Metroplex procedures are being dealt with across the country and that adjustments need to be made based on the performance of the new implemented procedures. Brian Perkins, of Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s Office, expressed support on modifications and changes to be considered with the new procedures, and encouraged Santa Cruz residents to reach out to members of congress and participate in public forums. Mr. Perkins is looking forward to more involvement in the Roundtable through the Technical Working Groups.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

11. Discussion, Noise Symposium Wrap-up

Chairperson Lentz and Vice-Chair Lewis shared their experiences in attending this year’s Noise Symposium. Both expressed enthusiasm in having discussions with other community forums across the country, and were grateful for the working relationship the Roundtable has with the FAA and SFO.

 

12. Airport Noise Briefing

Roundtable Aviation Technical Consultant, Paul Dunholter, provided a brief industry update, including a forthcoming evaluation of on how noise values are measured. Roundtable Aviation Technical Consultant, Harvey Hartmann, indicated the latest development in virtual control towers and their benefits.

 

13. Member Communications / Announcements

City and County of San Francisco Mayor’s Office Representative, Julian Chang, indicated this would be his last meeting. He expressed appreciation for serving with the group, and wished the Roundtable good luck on its continuing mission.

 

14. Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:01 p.m.

 

* NOTE: Roundtable meeting overviews are considered draft until approved by the Roundtable at a regular meeting.