The impacts of flight paths over Longboat questioned again

A Longboat Key resident recently noticed more dirt and debris on her outdoor furniture than was typical and pondered whether the number of aircraft flying over the barrier island could be playing a role in the increase.

The question of negative impacts flights over the barrier island might be having on residents, specifically their properties, helped reopen a conversation that Longboat has had before.

As some residents leave for the summer and others make Longboat Key their permanent residence and tourists vacation in their temporary paradise, the town of Longboat Key has revisited the conversation surrounding departing flight paths from the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. 

Town Manager Howard Tipton was naturally brought into the conversation and the question has since drummed up conversation about the history of flights over Longboat Key and the decision-making process that shaped flight paths over the island. 

Flight paths were officially changed roughly 17 years ago on June 8, 2006, after lengthy back and forth between the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration and Longboat Key residents.

The change first appeared as part of an updated noise compatibility plan in February 1997 and deemed the Runway 32 departure a “270-degree turn.” Per the plan, all aircraft would be instructed to turn left in a 270-degree radial and continue on that radial until they are beyond the barrier island and over the Gulf of Mexico before being allowed to turn north or south. 

The old paths had aircraft passing over more northern portions of the Key.

The new path was expected to cut 402 homes from the 65-decibel day-night average sound level zone. The DNL is a metric used to reflect a person’s cumulative exposure to sound over a 24-hour period and is expressed as the noise level for the average day of the year on the basis of annual aircraft operations. Sixty-five decibels is the threshold of significant noise exposure per the FAA. 

Courtesy photo

“Noise abatement is a big deal,” Tipton said. “It’s more of an issue the closer you are to the runways. I think (airport and FAA staff) were trying to make adjustments based on the growth and the population around the airport.”

The path change was anticipated to reduce the noise exposure for residents on the northern portion of the barrier island but increase the exposure for the area starting at the Sarasota/Manatee County line running north for about 1 mile. The area was chosen because it has historically included the least amount of permanent residents, with the majority of properties being commercial or vacation rental properties. 

After the FAA approved the turn, Longboat Key residents played a role in its delayed effect by submitting a number of appeals. A federal appeals court held up the FAA’s ruling in 2002. 

Even so, the airport still had to meet FAA requirements of extending the runway before the turn could be implemented. The airport also installed noise barriers and purchased or sound-proofed neighboring homes. 

Since it has taken effect, current conditions include: 

• The average altitude of aircraft crossing Longboat Key as measured from radar and GPS signals is 3,300 feet, with the occasional flight flying at 2,200 feet or 4,900 feet. 
• The average speed of aircraft crossing Longboat Key is 276 miles per hour, which is the equivalent of 4.5 miles per minute.

When the conversation last had in December 2021, graphics were included with the discussion and showed about 281 flights departing from Runway 32 and flying over the barrier island during an eight-day period in March. 

Courtesy photo

Commissioners at the time asked airport administrators if a change in path could be considered since 15 years had passed since the original discussion. 

“The decision to modify the departure path off Runway 32 in 2006 was made to alleviate the most intense aircraft noise generated during take-off to communities closest to the airport, while communities farther down the way from the airport are not as impacted,” airport officials said. “Sarasota County residents south of the airport see aircraft either taking off or landing every day. Also, Bradenton and Sarasota receive 100% of all aircraft arrivals while Longboat Key sees none. Arrivals are much closer to the ground than departures at equivalent distances.”

Even with the discussion surfacing again, Tipton does not foresee a conversation being revisited to request the airport take another look at its flight paths over Longboat Key. 

“I haven’t heard any (complaints) about noise or flight paths,” he said.