Citizens vs. the FAA

The DC Fair Skies Coalition, comprising citizen associations in the Washington area concerned about airplane noise, air pollution and flight safety, is now actively raising funds to hire expert attorneys for its fight with the Federal Aviation Administration. The dispute is over flight paths the coalition claims were changed in spring 2015 without the required environmental assessment and without considering “the impact of the significantly increased noise levels on the affected residential communities and students,” according to the formal administrative petition it filed against the FAA. The conflict comes as Reagan National Airport has expanded its routes and flights and is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The petition, which seeks immediate relief from aircraft noise from the new flight paths, was also signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Council members Jack Evans and Mary Cheh, and all At-Large Council members. Letters from D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Maryland Representative Chris Van Hollen and D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine accompanied the petition, along with official declarations by scores of individual residents.