FAA meets with Santa Cruz County leaders over flight path concerns

Fed up with big planes rattling their neighborhoods, on Friday night Santa Cruz County leaders and residents met with the Federal Aviation Administration.

“They are very loud and they’re very often and they never stop,” said Soquel resident Roger Barat.

Barat is one of about 100 people who rallied at Anna Jean Cumming Park in Sequel after the FAA set up a flight path over Santa Cruz County to the San Francisco International Airport.

Up the hill from the park the FAA answered residents’ concerns in a closed meeting at the Loma Prieta Community Center.

“I’m cautiously optimistic. But I think there’s some hope. I think that we raised some issues that I don’t think they were aware of,” said Patrick Meyer, with Save Our Skies Santa Cruz.

Meyer was at the meeting, which lasted about two hours. Along with a handful of residents, county supervisors and the mayors for Capitol and Scotts Valley were also in attendance. Meyer said their main focus was the noise issue caused by the low-flying planes as they descend into SFO airport.

In response, after the meeting the FAA told News Channel 5 it’s committed to working with residents to find a solution.

The FAA said it will look at raising the altitudes, fix the loud sound speed brakes make and think about holding a public meeting.

“They see this has become quite a devastating shock to people and it was I don’t think something they ever took into account before,” said Meyer.

Still, people like Barat said they won’t back down until something is done.

“You need to say something now. Or it’s forever going to be, our peace and quiet is going to be ruined,” said Barat.