LEIXLIP, 28 June 2001: by Brian Byrne. The Irish Aviation Authority is to study noise abatement procedures at Weston Aerodrome as part of an overall examination of air traffic in the region of the facility to see if improvement in the utilisation of airspace might be achieved.
But the authority says that overflights of a number of residential areas from where there have been complaints about noise 'cannot be avoided' as they are in line with one or another of the runways at Weston and pilots, for safety reasons, are required to reach 500 feet before commencing a turn.
In a letter to Emmett Stagg TD, the authority says that Weston has in place reccomended 'best practice' procedures on the minimisation of noise nuiscance by pilots using the facility, but the issue of overflights of residential areas will be 'taken into account' during the examination.
The IAA's director, B D McDonnell, also points out that the planning authorities in the area must 'share some responsibility' for the string of residential communities adjacent to the aerodrome over the years, given that it has been there and in operation since the mid-1930s.
"The extent of the authority's remit is that of air safety, but we will try to identify any possible noise alleviation which might be realised," Mr McDonnell said.
©2001brianbyrne/knn