FAA forms panel to give communities a voice on plane routes, altitudes

Since November, we hear the constant sound of planes overhead, day and night. It is a constant annoyance and completely disrupted our private life. I track the flight paths with an iPhone add, and it is clear that nearly all southbound traffic departing SFO flies out over the ocean and then TURNS BACK and flies right over the most densely populated areas of the peninsula. Inbound traffic from the north similarly is directed over the peninsula and then backtracks north to land in SFO. Why? The changes were apparently made to simplify the flight paths, and to attempt to reduce fuel consumption... clearly this was done without any consideration for noise above populated areas. I think the FAA needs to revisit this and recall that quality of life should be a consideration, not just in our community but in all metropolitan areas these changes have been implemented. I look forward to following up with all channels available to get this issue addressed.

Everyone who attended any of the public workshops was shown numerous charts depicting flight tracks prior to the new flight routes and flight tracks of the proposed flight tracks. The inbound and outbound traffic paths for SFO and SJC are almost identical with new and old tracks except we attendees were warned at the workshops that satellite navigation is more precise and therefore flights would likely be more concentrated in some areas. Those of us who have paid attention for many years know that aircraft noise has been an issue on the peninsula for at least 35 years. The focus on it is new, but the noise is not. My only hope is that the "Select Committee" is made up of a true representation of the affected communities - otherwise the committee will work to move the planes off their own houses onto the homes of those not represented. That would be unfair. Are the members selected based on the amount of money they contribute to political campaigns? Are they selected because they are the squeakiest wheels? Are they selected because they know anything about aviation? Are they selected merely because they know someone who knows someone? These are the questions we should be asking...