Proposals would reduce jet noise over Fort Myers Beach

ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral 

 FORT MYERS BEACH - The people have spoken and they are tired of the air traffic noise over parts of Lee County. After more than a year of listening to complaints, a committee is ready to make some recommendations. 

 The changes proposed would reduce the noise on the beach by about 6 decibels.

Flights in and out of the Southwest Florida International Airport come from all over the world; and many of them fly over Fort Myers Beach to get there.

The noise bothers Fort Myers Beach Town Councilman Alan Mandel. For nearly two years, he's worked with a special committee to reduce aircraft noise on the beach.

The committee has six recommendations - including raising the altitude over Fort Myers Beach to 3,000 feet.

Right now, the planes go over at about 1,600 to 2,000 feet.

Other proposals include changing the path of the planes and lowering the engine settings - making the plane more of a glider as it comes into RSW.

Some airlines are already making these changes - finding them more fuel efficient.

The Board of Port Commissioners will meet in January to decide whether to ask the FAA to implement these changes.

The FAA will have six months to make its decision. But no matter what, the pilot in command will keep the final authority to fly the plane safely

This isn't the first time people have complained about the noise and gotten results.

In 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration changed arrival routes into Southwest Florida, creating noise for people who hadn't heard it before.

After the change, residents spoke up and got the FAA to raise the height of approaching aircraft by 1,000 feet and divert some routes.

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