Letters & Shout-outs (April 3, 2015)

Letter: Altered flight path for SFO-bound aircraft causing disturbances
Editor,
As a resident of the Santa Cruz Mountains for almost 50 years, I can truthfully say that those of us who choose to live in the mountains do so to enjoy the serenity of nature and the peace and quiet that the area has to offer.
The recent change in the flight landing path at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has greatly changed the noise level for those of us living in portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
In the past, we would see but not hear commercial aircraft flying to the west of our home. Now, however, commercial aircraft are flying directly over our home when they change their speed to prepare for landing at SFO, causing noise from dawn and into the night that we never heard before.
I receive and read the Press-Banner but did not see a mention of the proposed change or a notice of a public hearing to the flight pattern change.
While I realize that this was not the fault of the editorial staff of the Press-Banner, I feel that the public officials at the Federal Aviation Administration, who were in charge of the change, did not do their duty to inform those who would be most affected by this change, and ask for public comment.
In addition to the constant noise annoyance, our property value has been compromised, as the change directly affects the desirability of our property.
California real estate law requires sellers to disclose noise nuisances to prospective buyers in writing. Why are the FAA and SFO held to a lower standard? We received no notice, thus no ability to comment on this important change to our lifestyle and future.
Stephen M. Payne, Felton