By Zack Anchors

Staff Writer

    The easiest approach for a pilot flying into the
Portland Jetport is a straight in “three degree glide slope” right over
Cape Elizabeth and South Portland and onto the Jetport runway. Not
surprisingly, that is also the approach that generates the most
complaints of excessive noise.

    In an effort to minimize noise from planes in
residential areas, the Portland Jetport has announced three new
initiatives designed to maximize the use of less intrusive approaches
into the Jetport, in particular the “harbor visual approach” that
guides planes over Casco Bay and up the Fore River. While a new
computer system will help pinpoint aircraft’s flight tracks, efforts
will be taken to educate flight crews that generate excessive noise and
an incentive program will reward flight crews that use a quieter
approach.

    “We’ve got to get all the glitches worked out of the
system,” said Assistant Airport Manager Jeff Bourk. “We’re hoping to
get that done by Jan. 1st and get this up and running.”

    The Flight Tracking System, which was installed last
spring, will use radar and GPS to correlate the flight tracks with
noise complaints, audio from air traffic control, current weather
conditions and other information. When a resident calls the Jetport’s
hotline with a noise complaint, the system will identify which plane
generated the noise in the resident’s neighborhood. The Jetport will
then investigate whether the flight crew followed proper procedure and
send a letter to the resident to inform them of the Jetport’s findings.


    The new computer system will also allow the Jetport
to study which flight crews are using the preferred approach and which
ones are not. Although the harbor visual approach generates much less
noise in residential areas, it is not always available, due to weather
conditions or other circumstances.

    The Flight Tracking System will pinpoint which
flights are using the harbor visual approach during the times when it
is available.

    Flight crews that do not use the harbor approach
when it is available will be sent “bad boy” letters informing them of
the importance of the approach and providing information on how to use
it.

    The third initiative planned by the Jetport is
intended reward flight crews that maximize use of the harbor visual
approach. After the Flight Tracking System identifies which crews are
using the approach most, the Jetport will present them with prizes like
lobsters, a dinner at DeMillo’s, or a vacation package.

    “We’ll keep track of the percentage of utilization
for each company,” said Bourk. “We hope to get incentives from the
chamber of commerce and give prizes to the top performers.”

    Ninety-five percent of the cost of the Flight
Tracking System, which cost around $250,000, was paid for with a
Federal Aviation Administration grant. The city of South Portland and
the state split the rest.