METROPLEX
YOU HAVE LANDED ON THIS PAGE FROM A LINK ON NEXTDOOR
After reading this briefing on how Metroplex will really affect our area, please return to the Nextdoor post and read how to attend the "virtual" public workshops next week and most importantly - how file a comment with the FAA to object to the Metroplex plan.
LIWMD has provided this website page as a courtesy to the Lauderdale Isles Civic Improvement Association in order to help quickly get the word out about Metroplex
After reading this briefing on how Metroplex will really affect our area, please return to the Nextdoor post and read how to attend the "virtual" public workshops next week and most importantly - how file a comment with the FAA to object to the Metroplex plan.
LIWMD has provided this website page as a courtesy to the Lauderdale Isles Civic Improvement Association in order to help quickly get the word out about Metroplex
METROPLEX BRIEFING – Prepared by the LICIA Airport Noise Committee
Dear Neighbor and Airport Noise Stakeholder:
Please take a few minutes and review this information. Hopefully, it will give you a better understanding of how Metroplex will affect us. We assume you are familiar with the issue of the 290 heading currently in use.
Background
As you can see from the several hundred pages of the draft Metroplex Environmental Assessment, it is a highly complex, technical document NOT written for a layperson to understand. Our concern is really only for the first 60 seconds of flight after the planes take off to the west using the North Runway. It is during those first 60 seconds that the planes come near or over our area. The purpose of this briefing is to simply demonstrate what will happen during those first 60 seconds.
Waypoints
During west winds, planes taking off from the north runway will use a sophisticated system called RNAV to guide them to “waypoints.” Those waypoints are what we are worried about. You may recall from their Metroplex Public Workshop last year, we told the FAA that we did NOT want them to use the waypoint closest to us, named “DREDS,” which could cause our situation to be even worse than it is now. Our concerns were ignored. They are planning to use “DREDS.”
The FAA’s Diagram
Here is the diagram from the Metroplex Environmental Assessment showing departures to the west that will affect us. Of course, it is at such a small scale that you cannot at all see what will happen during the first 60 seconds of flight while the aircraft are near us. (This diagram is so useless that you might almost think they did it like this purposely. After all, they know that Lauderdale Isles and southwest Ft. Lauderdale file more noise complaints than the rest of the county combined.)
Dear Neighbor and Airport Noise Stakeholder:
Please take a few minutes and review this information. Hopefully, it will give you a better understanding of how Metroplex will affect us. We assume you are familiar with the issue of the 290 heading currently in use.
Background
As you can see from the several hundred pages of the draft Metroplex Environmental Assessment, it is a highly complex, technical document NOT written for a layperson to understand. Our concern is really only for the first 60 seconds of flight after the planes take off to the west using the North Runway. It is during those first 60 seconds that the planes come near or over our area. The purpose of this briefing is to simply demonstrate what will happen during those first 60 seconds.
Waypoints
During west winds, planes taking off from the north runway will use a sophisticated system called RNAV to guide them to “waypoints.” Those waypoints are what we are worried about. You may recall from their Metroplex Public Workshop last year, we told the FAA that we did NOT want them to use the waypoint closest to us, named “DREDS,” which could cause our situation to be even worse than it is now. Our concerns were ignored. They are planning to use “DREDS.”
The FAA’s Diagram
Here is the diagram from the Metroplex Environmental Assessment showing departures to the west that will affect us. Of course, it is at such a small scale that you cannot at all see what will happen during the first 60 seconds of flight while the aircraft are near us. (This diagram is so useless that you might almost think they did it like this purposely. After all, they know that Lauderdale Isles and southwest Ft. Lauderdale file more noise complaints than the rest of the county combined.)
Better, More-Detailed Diagrams
Since the above diagram provided in the Metroplex document is useless if one wants to see where the planes will fly & what will really happen during the first 60 seconds of departures, we have plotted the two waypoints we are concerned with on following detailed maps. Now you can see what will happen with each waypoint.
Waypoint DREDS
This is the waypoint they are planning to use. It is called a “fly-by” waypoint, which means the aircraft have to fly within a mile of it. So we drew a one mile radius circle around the waypoint. There are two blue lines from the end of the runway to the circle, which results in a cone. The plane can fly anywhere within that cone. You can see that the cone extends well into Lauderdale Isles. So if Metroplex is approved as planned, it can result in aircraft flying right over our homes. Think about how much worse our noise situation will be.
Since the above diagram provided in the Metroplex document is useless if one wants to see where the planes will fly & what will really happen during the first 60 seconds of departures, we have plotted the two waypoints we are concerned with on following detailed maps. Now you can see what will happen with each waypoint.
Waypoint DREDS
This is the waypoint they are planning to use. It is called a “fly-by” waypoint, which means the aircraft have to fly within a mile of it. So we drew a one mile radius circle around the waypoint. There are two blue lines from the end of the runway to the circle, which results in a cone. The plane can fly anywhere within that cone. You can see that the cone extends well into Lauderdale Isles. So if Metroplex is approved as planned, it can result in aircraft flying right over our homes. Think about how much worse our noise situation will be.
Waypoint SEAZZ
We did the same type of diagram for this waypoint. This waypoint is only about 1 mile farther west, but it makes all the difference in the world for us. You can see that the “fly-by” cone does not extend into Lauderdale Isles. However, we will still experience some noise with this waypoint, as the upper side of the cone is right along I595, which is the same as the 290 heading they use now.
We did the same type of diagram for this waypoint. This waypoint is only about 1 mile farther west, but it makes all the difference in the world for us. You can see that the “fly-by” cone does not extend into Lauderdale Isles. However, we will still experience some noise with this waypoint, as the upper side of the cone is right along I595, which is the same as the 290 heading they use now.
“Fly-over” Waypoints
Besides “fly-by” waypoints as described above, there are also “fly-over” waypoints. With these, the plane has to fly directly over the waypoint.
A Better Solution
Look at SEAZZ diagram again, only look at the red line that goes from the runway direct to the waypoint; this would be the path of the planes if SEAZZ is a “fly-over” waypoint. As you can see, this puts the planes on a due WEST course, which is exactly what we want. This is the heading that was always used for the north runway prior to the opening of the south runway. This is obviously a much better solution, and puts the aircraft over industrial areas to the west of the airport AND away from us. AND much less noise.
A Possible Even Better Solution
There is another waypoint that currently exists, named NOVAE, which is located farther west of SEAZZ, west of University Drive. This diagram shows all three waypoints. You can see NOVAE in relationship to the other two. This would be an even better solution for us as a “fly-over” waypoint.
Besides “fly-by” waypoints as described above, there are also “fly-over” waypoints. With these, the plane has to fly directly over the waypoint.
A Better Solution
Look at SEAZZ diagram again, only look at the red line that goes from the runway direct to the waypoint; this would be the path of the planes if SEAZZ is a “fly-over” waypoint. As you can see, this puts the planes on a due WEST course, which is exactly what we want. This is the heading that was always used for the north runway prior to the opening of the south runway. This is obviously a much better solution, and puts the aircraft over industrial areas to the west of the airport AND away from us. AND much less noise.
A Possible Even Better Solution
There is another waypoint that currently exists, named NOVAE, which is located farther west of SEAZZ, west of University Drive. This diagram shows all three waypoints. You can see NOVAE in relationship to the other two. This would be an even better solution for us as a “fly-over” waypoint.
In Summary:
We would prefer NOVAE “fly-over”. Secondly SEAZZ “fly-over.”
But “ DREDS” as “fly-by” is what they are planning with Metroplex, and has the potential to be worse than our current noise situation with the 290 heading.
Metroplex Workshops
The Metroplex Workshops next week are “virtual” public workshops, meaning you attend them on-line using your PC, your tablet, or your phone. There will be no “in-person” public workshops like the one held at the Signature Grand last April. You will be able to ask questions during these virtual workshops.
Most importantly, you need to file a written “comment” with the FAA objecting to this plan before July 10. We need hundreds of comments to be filed so the FAA gets the word that our community is totally opposed to this plan.
Return to the Nextdoor post for links to the actual Metroplex Environmental Assessment, the schedules for the virtual public workshops, and how to file a “comment” with the FAA.
Thanks!
The Lauderdale Isles Civic Improvement Association’s Airport Noise Committee
We would prefer NOVAE “fly-over”. Secondly SEAZZ “fly-over.”
But “ DREDS” as “fly-by” is what they are planning with Metroplex, and has the potential to be worse than our current noise situation with the 290 heading.
Metroplex Workshops
The Metroplex Workshops next week are “virtual” public workshops, meaning you attend them on-line using your PC, your tablet, or your phone. There will be no “in-person” public workshops like the one held at the Signature Grand last April. You will be able to ask questions during these virtual workshops.
Most importantly, you need to file a written “comment” with the FAA objecting to this plan before July 10. We need hundreds of comments to be filed so the FAA gets the word that our community is totally opposed to this plan.
Return to the Nextdoor post for links to the actual Metroplex Environmental Assessment, the schedules for the virtual public workshops, and how to file a “comment” with the FAA.
Thanks!
The Lauderdale Isles Civic Improvement Association’s Airport Noise Committee