Community grills Speier, SFO officials on noise issue

"From a quality of life standpoint the noise issues should be front and center," Speier said. All the residents at the meeting seemed to agree on this point.

Airport officials began the meeting by giving a presentation on noise. They discussed the types of planes used by the airports, different flight patterns, and decibel levels in certain neighborhoods.

Jon Long, SFO noise abatement officer concluded by offering possible solutions. "We can provide noise insulation to the homes nearby, we could use the land acquisition process to acquire land, we could propose flight changes and procedures, suggest that the airplanes use preferred runways to take off over water, and monitor the noise abatement in the homes," Long said.

But for the residents in attendance, all these suggestions were reminiscent of previous proposals made by airport officials which failed in solving any noise problems.

"I heard the same thing five years ago in San Bruno and it didn't change," said South San Francisco resident Miguel Nunez. "I live one mile from the airport and the noise is terrible. I need some help. Help us fix the windows and insulate the house. We are slaves of airport noise."

Another nearby resident in South San Francisco, Cynthia Marcopulos suggested the officials look into opening Mofett field and Alameda airport to alleviate some of the congestion coming into SFO.

But SFO officials were quick to reply that these were not viable options. They said that Moffet field is used as a research center and Alameda airport may be used for a wildlife sanctuary.

Marcopulos also asked what officials planned to do when the hot weather arrives and people are trapped in their homes due to the noise from the airplanes.

"Are you going to put air conditioners in our homes in the warm weather so we are not prisoners in our homes?" Marcopulos asked.

Marcopulos said she has called SFO's hotline many times to voice complaints about the noise but nothing ever comes of it. "They give you a code and they send you a letter in the mail with the flight patterns and tell you which flight path was bothering you," she said. "It's a joke."

But airport officials insisted they are doing everything they can to relieve some of the noise for the neighbors.

"The routes haven't changed in 20 years and it's because it's tough to work with changing flight patterns," said Jon Long, SFO's noise abatement officer, adding that the FAA has total jurisdiction over the air space.

He calculated that SFO has spent more than $120 million dollars in insulating homes for sound so far.

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