SFO Roundtable Announces Winners of the 2018 Fly Quiet Awards

Article Source: SFO Airport/Community Roundtable - San Francisco CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 4 2019

San Francisco Airport Roundtable announces winners of the 2018 Fly Quiet Awards

Three airlines operating out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) made impressive strides to alleviate noise impacts in surrounding neighborhoods, according to the San Francisco Airport/Community Roundtable (Roundtable) which honored them each with a 2018 Jon C. Long Fly Quiet Award.

This year’s awards acknowledged the winners for their voluntary efforts to fly as quietly as possible during calendar year 2018. Airlines earn points by implementing policies and procedures and/or using certain types of equipment that have less impacts on communities. The Roundtable honored the winners Wednesday, April 3, at its regular meeting held at the Chetcuti Community Room at Millbrae City Hall.

“The Fly Quiet Program is a critical tool for the Roundtable to educate and incentivize airlines to do the right thing,” says Elizabeth Lewis, Member of the Atherton City Council and Roundtable Chairwoman. “Participation by the airlines is completely voluntary. And when the airlines are pro-active in trying to fly within the Fly-Quiet Program parameters, it can make a huge difference to our residents. “

The 2018 recipients are:

Quietest Airline: Air China. Earning this award for the second year in a row, Air China scored an average score of 8.94 of 10 possible points. Over the past year, Air China operated one flight with the Boeing 747-800, the newest and quietest model of the four-engine wide body aircraft. The airline also earned points for focusing certain flight operations during daytime hours, rather than early morning when nearby residents are acutely impacted.

Most Improved Airline: Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic Airways (VIR) achieved a significant score improvement of 1.85 points between the 1st Quarter and 2nd Quarter of 2018. By using the Boeing 787-900 aircraft for their flights, VIR was able to maintain high scores in the Fleet Noise and Noise Exceedance Categories earning its second “most improved” award in three years.

Chairperson’s Award: Interjet Airlines. This new Mexican carrier that started in early 2018 operates Airbus A320 aircraft and the newer/quieter A320 NEO aircraft between Mexico City and SFO. Before the airline began operations at SFO, staff worked with the Noise Abatement Office to brief pilots about the noise sensitivities that exist in and around SFO. Interjet took the extra step of including the SFO Fly Quiet Program information directly into its pilot briefing packet, representing the first time since the inception of the Fly Quiet Program that a carrier has demonstrated such dedication to being a good neighbor before commencing operations.

“With ever increasing airline traffic, our communities are subject to burdensome aircraft noise,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, a longtime member of the Roundtable whose district includes SFO. “Fortunately, there are voluntary steps that airlines can take to fly more quietly. Today, we honor those airlines who have implemented best practices that reduce noise and provide examples for other airlines to follow.”

SFO’s Fly Quiet Program is an initiative of the Roundtable implemented by the Airport’s Noise Abatement Office. The Fly Quiet Program helps promote noise abatement initiatives through publicizing voluntary compliance rather than admonishing violations. The performance scores are made available to the public via newsletters, publications, and public meetings. Airlines are awarded points for fleet noise quality, noise exceedance, nighttime runway use, choice of departure path, and choice of arrival runway.

The Jon C Long Fly Quiet Awards are named in honor of Jon C Long, who served as SFO’s Noise Abatement Officer from 2000-2003 and who worked to implement the Fly Quiet Program.

Photos (right: Luis Miguel Hernández Ramos - Interjet A320 Captian, left: Ricardo Ortiz, Vice-Chair – SFO Airport/Community Roundtable)

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James A. Castañeda, AICP

Program Coordinator

SFO Airport/Community Roundtable

San Mateo County Planning and Building Department

455 County Center, 2nd Floor | Redwood City, CA 94063 | 650-363-1853

http://www.sforoundtable.org/

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Robert Riechel

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Photo Credit: SFO Airport/Community Roundtable

Source Credit: SFO Airport/Community Roundtable

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