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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, December 3, 2015 | 4 GTAA continues to hear about airplane noise in Oakville by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Halton residents who are concerned about airplane noise above their homes may see some changes in the next few years. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) explained to Halton Regional councillors recently that it's taking an active role in looking at ways to mitigate noise created by air traffic to and from Pearson International Airport. Working with Nav Canada, which creates the flight paths overhead of people's homes, the GTAA has listed six noise mitigation options. Noise mitigation options They are: · looking at new approaches for aircrafts during the night · developing new departure procedures for planes during the night · increasing downwind arrival speeds · using new technology to reduce the need for low-altitude aircrafts · establishing weekend preferential runways · alternating night-time preferential runways Hillary Marshall, GTAA's vice president of stakeholder relations and communications, told councillors, during their monthly meeting, the GTAA met with Oakville community leaders last summer to discuss the six measures. Next steps Next steps will entail a technical analysis of the options and public consultation in the new year. In the meantime, Marshall noted positive changes have been made to GTAA's Noise Management Program. Oakville rep now on board The Community Environment and Noise Advisory Committee (CENAC), comprised of elected officials from across the GTA, now includes Oakville Councillor Jeff Knoll as a Halton representative. The committee meets five or six times a year to discuss Pearson International Airport noise-related issues. Marshall said the GTAA has also removed a 10-nautical-mile complaint restriction so that anyone affected by aircraft noise can make a complaint. The location of noise-monitoring terminals, which analyze and correlate noise complaints with aircraft operations, will also be reviewed. That review will be discussed at CENAC's December meeting. Route to possible changes Oakville Councillor Allan Elgar asked Marshall how flight paths and the level at which the airplanes are flying over homes could be changed. Marshall noted Nav Canada sets the flight path while the GTAA informs communities how changes will impact them. She said the noise mitigation initiatives being studied won't change flight paths, but will look at mitigating the impacts of flight paths. Marshall also presented Pearson International Airport's vision for itself and its future. 13th busiest airport As the 13th-busiest airport for total passengers, and the second-largest airport for international passengers, the airport envisions continued growth as a global hub airport. To achieve success, it must address the groundside infrastructure that surrounds it. The GTAA notes an interchange at Pearson, a `Union Station West,' is needed to change how people get to the airport. l r. M ge aris a D'An g hiv ani Sag We offer full Family Dental Services in our brand new, state-of-the-art office in a calm and relaxing environment. We are a paperless office and use digital x-rays. We welcome kids, teens, adults and seniors. NEW PATIENTS are welcome and we will accommodate your dental emergencies. We will directly bill your insurance company and offer convenient evening and weekend appointments. 2525 Old Bronte Road, Suite #130 Palermo Professional Centre (ground floor) Old Bronte Rd. Bronte Rd. Dundas St. W. Pine Glen Rd. 3rd Line www.reflections-dental.ca 905-827-8700 è N ar o D r. S D IN SUPPORT OF Ski & Snowboard event BenefiTting the Oakville trafalgar memorial Hospital Ticket includes day access to slopes, lunch, games, races es & much mo more!