Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990 TAG: 9004250749
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The commission voted today to send a "strongly worded letter" to the Air Force to complain about a fighter jet disturbing residents near the airport Tuesday afternoon.
The plane, which was based at an Air Force base in South Carolina, was in Roanoke to practice maneuvers to become familiar with the airport in case Air Force jets ever need to land at the airport.
Jacqueline Shuck, executive director of the airport, said today that the Air Force performs the aerial maneuvers at civilian airports to become familiar with them.
Shuck said the normal maneuvers by the planes don't create an unusual disturbance, but the pilot of the jet that was over Roanoke Tuesday "turned on his afterburners and went straight up as he left."
Roanoke County Supervisor Bob Johnson, a commission member, said he got many complaints from residents on Pendleton Drive complaining about the noise created by the jet.
"While I appreciate the free air show, I don't appreciate the problem that was created by the noise," Johnson said.
Shuck said she contacted the Federal Aviation Administration tower at the airport about the incident and asked them to relay her concern to the Air Force.
The plane was a big problem for airport neighbors, Shuck said. The usual practice maneuvers don't get much notice, but the afterburners did cause trouble, she said.
Roanoke City Manager Bob Herbert, commission chairman, said the time and date of the incident will be reported to the Air Force.
Johnson, who represents the county residents who live near the airport, said "Perhaps we can be designated as a quiet zone" for the Air Force.
On another matter, Ron Adkins, a partner in a new travel agency in the Roanoke Valley, urged the commission today to seek additional major airlines to serve the airport. "We could do better if we had more competitive air service at the airport," he said.
Herbert asked Shuck to brief Adkins on the airport's efforts to attract additional airlines. In recent months, airport officials have been working to attract additional airlines and has contacted several major carriers.
by CNB