More on airplane noise in the city

Today's paper has a column on airplane noise. It says: "The number of jets landing at Palm Springs International Airport has increased from an average of one a day in 2000 to three a day in 2011. Some local residents tell us it must be more. Many of us love to see the aviators stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants. It gives us a chance to say thank you for their service. Enduring a couple of minutes of noise seems like a small price to pay in support of military readiness. But those who live under the flight path say it is unbearable. It scares their pets and rattles their windows. What can be done? Federal law prevents Palm Springs from restricting access to the airport. But Gainer's committee has made suggestions worth considering. Signs requesting “good neighbor” flying policies have been erected on the apron where the jets come and go. The airport director has met with the aviation community asking it to encourage the pilots to respect that request. The airport website includes a message asking pilots to “avoid use of afterburners and employ judicious use of throttle settings.” In 1993, a multi-year noise mitigation study was conducted as part of the extension of the airport's main runway. It was completed in 2005. About $11 million in federal grants were used to purchase 11 parcels near the airport and to install noise insulation for 200 homes. It might be time to consider a new noise remediation study because of the louder twin-engine F-18s. The city should also analyze the economic impact of the jets. Gainer claims noisy jets chase away prospective home buyers and tourists. But we suspect many tourists, like many residents,love to see the jets come and go." Miss Penny Lane says: She was in the Home Depot parking lot and the noise nearly knocked off her wig.