FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- Less than a week after Bill Minek watched planes taking off from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and flying directly north down the West 210th Street corridor, the Ward 2 councilman was hoping to get answers from City of Cleveland leadership.
Fairview Park officials met July 8 with airport Director Robert Kennedy, Noise Compatibility Officer Edward Kamposek and Office of Community Relations Manager Phyllis Jackson.
“When I told them about planes traveling northerly, they said they fly in a northeast direction,” said Minek, chair of Fairview Park’s Environment, Public Works, Planning, Zoning & Development Committee.
“I told them on July 4, I was waving to the pilots going directly north on West 210th Street from the valley. They say they’re not supposed to be there. Maybe they banked. I told them I could see them coming from the south directly north and then making the bank," Minek said.
The councilman said he wasn’t satisfied learning that a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) master plan was coming up next year for the airport. He noted that there’s still plenty of time left in 2019 for the city to deal with air traffic noise.
During the meeting, Minek said he was told that out of 110,000 flights annually at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, there were only 600 complaints.
“I said, ‘Fine, but those 600 people took the time to call you because of the noise complaint,’” said Minek, who pressed airport officials about protocol related to air traffic complaints.
Airport officials, who wouldn’t comment to cleveland.com about the recent meeting, told the councilman that a complaint call is logged with a time and date before being sent to the FAA.
“I was told the logged complaints are put into their future studies,” Minek said. “I said, ‘What you’re telling me is by calling you, the issue isn’t going to be resolved?’ They wouldn’t commit to an answer.
“What I’m going to do now is get someone from the FAA to come speak to the city. We’re working on that. We’re presently in temporary recess. I’m hoping for a meeting in the late summer or early fall.”
The issue of airplane noise is nothing new to Fairview Park residents and officials. Mayor Eileen Ann Patton said an open house-style meeting took place nearly three years ago, with FAA and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport staff in attendance at the Gemini Center.
However, Minek said nothing changed.
“Your calls can help reduce excessive noise,” Patton said. “It’s important for us to remain diligent with the airport director and to report excessive aircraft noise, as these reports will build a study of air traffic that can pinpoint that the planes are moving west and not staying over the Cleveland Metroparks.”
Patton stressed that residents with complaints are encouraged to call 216-898-5220.
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