Safe and Quiet Skies over Abbotsford

The Abbotsford International Aiport has imbarked on irresponsible and dangerous air system changes that threaten to change the soundscape of “The City in the Country” and enganger the safety of Abbotsford residents.

 In the summer of 2009, YXX and Nav Canada implemented changes to air traffic around Abbotsford that has resulted in a distinct increase of air traffic over the city's residential areas. A prime example of this is WestJet's new air approach to YXX that has large Boeing jet's flying low directly over Abbotsford's urban residential neighborhoods rather than fly around the city as they did before. It would seem that most airport authorities aim to protect the public by routing traffic into rural areas whenever possible so that in the event of a crash or emergency landing, the number of potential casualties is minimized. Our authorites and WestJet seem to be doing that exact opposite for no other reason than save fuel. YXX touts the new Required Navigational Performance (RNP) system now used by WestJet as a basis for declaring their landings are safer. RNP manages only navigation. RNP did not prevent a large engine part from falling off a Boeing aircraft into an urban neiborhood last month in Florida and didn't prevent at least two other aircraft crashes over urban areas in North America last month. Recently in Richmond, a boeing jet passing over an urban neighborhood dropped large blocks of ice in to the neighborhood narrowly missing one boy and damaging the roof of a home. It is ludricrous for airport authorities to claim that sending large aircraft unnecessarily over urban residential areas as a safer way to land airplanes.

Even the claim that the RNP system has brought safe navigation to our skies is questionable. Run a Google search on the title “Collison Risk goes up, as Water in the Fish Bowl goes down” and you will find an informative and frightening perspective from the Langley Flying School on the recent changes in air traffic around Abbotsford driven by Nav Canada and endorsed by YXX and Mayor Gearge Peary. The website clearly lays out a number of dangers in these changes. The fact that these WestJet Boeing aircraft flying at a low altitudes along the Fraser river then proceed to bank left to swoop low over Sumas Mountain urban residential areas toward the airport seems irresponsible. With Boeing aircraft descending into an sharply ascending landscape of highly populated homes and schools, does this not present a disastrous scenario should the aircraft encounter mechanical problems or should the RNP system program falter. As the WestJet aircraft skim over the peek of Sumas mountain, does YXX, Nav Canada, and WestJet expect the residents below to put all of our faith into a mere computer program that manages the descent of the aircraft? The frightful fact is that computer programs crash (ask Toyota) and so do aircraft. But in an effort to simply save fuel, WestJet, YXX, Nav Canada, and the City of Abbotsford are embarking in a reckless direction by unnecessarily implementing “new navigational technology” over our urban residential areas.

The residents of Abbotsford need to be aware of the airport's purpose for introducing RNP technology to YXX. RNP is a navigation system that allows for multiple air traffic lanes to be introduced within areas that have limited airspace. YXX and the City of Abbotsford are embarking on a $30-million airport expansion that boasts to double air traffic and bring in larger aircraft, but the residents of Abbotsford have not been given any information as to how the doubling of air traffic through RNP lanes over the city will effect our lives in terms of safety and noise pollution. Have the citizens of Abbotsford approved the City's decision to turn the “City in the Country” into a barrage of air traffic hurling through narrow traffic lanes over the city day and night, thundering over previously quiet residental areas, and spewing fuel toxins directly over highly populated areas. YXX claims that the new The new landing system “benefit the environment”. This is an outright lie.

The airport authority claims they are within the legal limit to fly as low as 1000 feet above built-up areas. One would think that this law is to protect residents living right next to airports. Since our Sumas Mountain neighborhood is 13 kilometers from YXX, the airport is certainly stretching its legal limits by approving Boeing aircraft to pound through 13 kilometers of urban terrain at such a low altitude on approach to the airport. The airport website claims that they are working with Nav Canada toward mitigating air traffic noise; however, I only see evidence that they are rushing toward increasing air traffic noise. The soundscape is already changing in Abbotsford as general air traffic noise has increased considerably over the past year since Nav Canada implemented navigational changes over Abbotsford's air space July 2, 2009. I think it is irresponsible for the City of Abbotsford to allow the air industry to place permanent RNP air corridors directly over neighborhoods far from the airport without consulting the residents who will be effected. Soundscape and security are two key factors that people consider when they purchase a home. The City has given a negligent nod for these two qualities to be stripped away from many Abbotsford residents.

The City's 2006 Abbotsford Cares report on the City's website is a social planning document that lays out principles for successfully community planning that include “...caring, working together, citizen engagement, and inclusion”. I see absolutely no reflection of these principles in the City's air traffic expansion plans. In discussion with the airport authorites, I asked if the public is consulted at any point of air traffic changes that affect the residents of Abbotsford, and the answer was an unapologetic 'no'. This greatly concerns me. After signing this petition, please email the following agencies whenever you hear unwelcome air traffic: Abbotsford International Airport (yxx@abbordford.ca)Nav Canada (service@navcanada.ca).

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