Noise complaints regarding increased aircraft traffic in Alderwood, Long Branch, and Markland Wood; meeting on April 19, 2017
Updates
Please refer to more recent posts:
A late-April 2017 CTV news report is entitled: “Runway construction at Pearson leads to ground delays.”
An April 21, 2017 Etobicoke Guardian article is entitled: “Etobicoke residents issued apology for Pearson airport flight noise: Operations to normalize following completion of runway rehab: GTAA.”
I have received the following message by email, and have also read about this topic at a “Long Branch Development” Facebook Page.
Message regarding increased aircraft traffic over Alderwood and Long Branch reads as follows:
You probably have noticed that the airplane traffic and noise has increased lately and there are plans by the GTAA to have planes fly over our houses for 2 weekends a month and 2 nights a week all night permanently.
Anyways there is a number/email you can contact to register your complaints. This is basically how the air traffic has been rerouted to our neighbourhood because other neighbourhoods complained loudly.
https://www.torontopearson.com/en/noisecomplaint/#
There is also a big meeting scheduled for April 19th to address the issue, I am not sure of the details.
There is also a Facebook page “Alderwood Airplane Noise”:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/283181248789297/
[End]
[The comments below serve to round out some of what is known, regarding this topic]
Meeting on April 19, 2017
For details, here’s a link:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211211769662570&set=p.10211211769662570&type=3&theater
Earlier updates
An April 2017 (not clear about exact date) CBC article is entitled: “Planes diverted around Toronto skies while Canada’s busiest runway gets a facelift: East-west Runway 05-23 will be closed for repairs until mid-May.”
An April 16, 2017 CBC article is entitled: “Toronto homeowners cash out of hot real estate market amid uncertainty: Agent says some buyers are delaying purchases in anticipation of possible fixes.”
You are aware of the east-west runway repairs, right?…
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/runway-construction-at-pearson-airport-leads-to-ground-delays-for-travelers-1.3356808
I wasn’t aware of this aspect of things Andrew. We owe you thanks for let ng is know about this link.
Further comments – from the Long Branch Development and Alderwood Airplane Noise Facebook groups:
Speaker One: We know the reason for the excess air traffic but there are studies being done with the flight paths and this could be a regular thing 24/7 twice a month if I’ve got my info correct. It’s all getting to be a bit confusing at this point and nerve racking.
So many planes to frequently and so close together I’m more concerned about the safety human lives.
Speaker Two: This is a serious issue. There is as I understand considerable research on the negative effects on health of living under an active flight path. The specific safety issue that you describe – of many planes coming together frequently – is also a key consideration.
Third Speaker, at Alderwood Airplane Noise Facebook group:
I’ve been taking the information we have gathered here and engaged my neighbours discussing the issues door to door. Many people in the neighbourhood are not connected on any social media platform so reaching out to them has been very positive . I reached 7 families and distributed the information we have and educated them on how to register their complaints to make sure their voice is heard too. I’ve been working very diligently in my own way to make sure the message reaches as many of people as possible. On that note, between the airplanes and the effort to remain positive, I am pretty tired and burnt out. So, I am going to take a well deserved break for now. I am thankful that I am leaving the city for a few days to enjoy Easter with family and recoup to come back fresh next week and prepare for the upcoming meetings. Good Luck everyone and keep up the good work. Cheers
A Jan. 8, 2016 (that is, 2016) Globe and Mail article is entitled: “Toronto residents unite to fight for their airspace.”
FYI: April 16, 2016 email correspondence related to the air traffic issue (in which planes are heard coming in for landing at a rate that I’ve timed in a very preliminary way as roughly once every 90 second or two minutes – with occasional cases where the interval is longer):
Speaker A: A neighbour mentioned the air traffic to me just this morning and explained that one of the runways at Pearson is closed for construction and so there have been re-routings so it may not be a permanent change.
Speaker B: There has also been discussion that processes are underway indicating that the changes may be permanent.
I’ve read reports referring to the temporary re-routings and I’ve also read reports referring to the possibility of permanent changes. Both kinds of information are at the post [that is, the post that is at the page you as a site visitor are now reading] that I mentioned. It’s my hope that the re-routings are indeed of a temporary nature.
As more information accumulates, we will know.
I heard on the news very recently that the flights will only be as they are until the airport repairs some of their runways.
I have noticed some noise but I love seeing the planes so much that I don’t mind. Also I have not been disturbed by the planes at night. Of course the windows are closed mostly now so it might be a problem in the warm weather
Let us hope that is the case, Cathy, that the arrangement is only temporary. Whether it’s temporary or heading toward being permanent is a topic where we are awaiting more definitive information. At times it can be an interesting challenge, to find evidence-based information about topics of relevance to our community.
I like to think of the lives of all of the people who are arriving by plane – arriving for the first time or arriving back to one’s established place of residence. They would be thinking of so many things. So many impressions would be arising in their minds. All manner of conversations would be underway.
I like to notice details, such as that the landing gear is down. I’ve begun using binoculars to get a closer look at each aircraft. I would add that, where we are located, we may not be as close to the situation as compared to residents living further north of us. Being closer to the noise of a plane as it approaches the runway would be another matter, I believe.
unless you have been living here for more than 78 years, the airport was here first
if you don’t like airplanes going over your house – move – your house will sell in no time
When Malton Airport aka Pearson International was first built our communities were considered far from the airport. There has been an exponential increase in the amount of air traffic, and the size and noise of the jets since little Malton Airport opened.
The planes tend to fly very low over our homes and communities causing the windows to thrum. There are times when the noise of one jet just starts to fade and the incoming roar of another starts. The air traffic wakes people at night and is very intrusive during the day when you are outside. I can easily hear it inside my home. We also deal with the noise from aircraft using the island airport.
The communities of Alderwood, Long Branch, Mimico and New Toronto are already subjected to the stress of the loud and almost constant noise generated by the 24 x 7 operation of the railway and Willowbrook railyard.
If these flight paths are a temporary solution while construction is in progress, advance information and community outreach by the GTAA would have been a great idea.
Our communities should not be the new permanent flight path solution for Pearson International. It is like living beside the airshow.
Carol Milroy of Long Branch writes:
Hello Jaan,
I have read some of the e-mail responses on your website and would like to add my own experience. I live on 42nd Street across from Marie Curtis Park and had noticed from the beginning of April an increase in the air traffic and increased noise pollution. I am not able to keep my windows open once the assembly line of aircraft traffic begins which can be early in the morning or late into the evening. The flight intervals are as little as one to three minutes apart.
I grew up on a couple of air force bases and there is more aircraft action in the skies over Long Branch these days than at a non wartime military airbase. It is one thing to watch the jets quite another to live with them on a daily basis raining noise over one’s head. Once a precedent for flight paths has been set, we will be stuck with it. The quality of life in the affected neighbourhoods should not be superseded by those whose interests are solely commanded by the bottom line.
My complaint will be registered at the link you have provided.
Carol Milroy
bottom line is alot of us have very young children and the flight path well not imposing a danger and an absolute annoyance has affected the sleep of thousands daily. this has to stop,
The effects on the sleep of young children was among the topics discussed at the April 19, 2017 GTAA meeting. One resident living close to the airport spoke of how a very young child was making up, crying, each morning at a very early hour, as that was when the flights resumed.
The current noise level will stop toward the end of May, as I recall from information I have read (please see below) and will not, as I understand, continue during the summer; there will be a break during the summer, according to what I’ve read.
The updates, with additional details about what residents can expect, that I have posted include:
Message from Lakeshore Planning Council regarding air traffic noise in Markland Wood, Alderwood, and Long Branch
MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre) spoke most eloquently at the April 19, 2017 GTAA Air Traffic Noise meeting
I wrote letter to all councillors and GTAA also to mayor. I hope they will acknowledge us.
If they do this, all these neighbourhoods are ruined.
I am just so pissed. I am concerned for the well being of my young children
I too am extremely upset over the volume and noise. Last night the whole family was awaken at 2:20 a.m. to our windows shaking!!! The airplane was flying so low my kids even woke up. We thought we were being attacked. It was very scary. I’m tired of hearing this all weekend. We cannot keep our windows open and we cannot enjoy our back yard. It is so loud we cannot hear each other and it is consistent…..one after another. I filled out the survey but hope to be contacted so I can tell them how I really feel about this air noise pollution!
I also very much depressed . just moved to the area from islington and rathburn. There no any noise to compare what is in long branch. I don’t know why they discriminate some area because more rich people lived there and they have privilege ? I love long branch and will fight with aviation . Please help me I think the more people complain the better outcome. If this not going to help and we going to lose our health and our children too then the best lawyers from Toronto can do something . Our families most important and no one going to protect our children except parents . They so fragile .