Petition urging FAA to stop jet noise in Santa Cruz

Save Our Skies Santa Cruz (SOSSC) said the launch of an online petition on is gaining even more support to end jet noise allegedly caused by the Federal Aviation Administration’s new NextGen flight program.

The group said the goal is to get 2,500 signatures, and as of Monday afternoon there are already 2,052 supporters who have signed the petition. At least 448 signatures are still needed.

The online effort is trying the urge the FAA to move its NextGen jet flight to SFO back to its original path, Star BIG SUR Two. According to the petition, “the FAA has no understanding of the impact that this route change has had on the residents of Santa Cruz County” since its implementation of March 5, 2015.

“The hasty implementation of SERFR One has been a travesty for our residents, wildlife, businesses and visitors that come to Santa Cruz for peace and relaxation,” the petition reads.

According to Save our Skies, no actual data was collected and analyzed by the staff responsible for creating the Environmental Assessment that lead to the change. Save Our Skies said the FAA has no understanding of the impact the route change has had on the residents of Santa Cruz County.

Returning to the original path will not create additional disruption to residents within hearing distance due to such factors as altitude, aircraft speed, topography and weather conditions, the organization says.

Recently the office of Congressman Sam Farr announced that they are setting up a meeting between the FAA, local officials and members of the SOSSC group. Save our Skies hopes to bolster the 2,000 plus signatures with the online effort before this meeting.

There will be a separate public meeting held Thursday, June 25 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Branciforte Fire Station on 2711 Branciforte Dr. in Santa Cruz. The featured speaker will be Kevin Terrell who is the co-founder of MSP Fair Skies Coalition will address how he dealt with a similar situation with the FAA in Minnesota.

This group of Twin Cities residents successfully fought the FAA and stopped implementation of a new flight departure system that would have increased airport noise and air pollution over previously unimpacted Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods.

At the meeting, the latest updates on the upcoming meeting with the FAA, news from Save our Skies representatives, and upcoming actions that need public support will also be discussed.

Save our Skies hopes to boost the 2,000 plus signatures with the online effort before this meeting.

For more information about Save Our Skies Santa Cruz or to view the petition click on these links.