In view of the arrogance and duplicity of the Federal Aviation Administration — in regard to the “Tennis Climb” departure trial run using the new RNAV navigational system at LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 13, which has environmentally affected Briarwood and other Queens communities from Feb. 13 to Aug. 13 — I recommend that plaintiffs who were medically and/or psychologically affected file a class-action lawsuit in the Eastern District of the U.S. federal court.
There exists substantial scientific evidence, as reviewed in “Noise: A Health Problem” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control in August 1978, that loud noise in general, and aircraft noise in particular, can “produce serious physical and psychological stress … [be] a complicating factor in heart problems and other disease … aggravate existing emotional disorders” and “additional links between noise and birth defects have been noted.”
Despite the fact that the FAA said it would take in public comment solely in an advisory capacity — without City Council oversight — before making the new route permanent, I suggest anyone who believes their medical and/or psychological condition to be adversely affected by this FAA blitzkrieg seek medical consultation and legal advice to proceed to the federal court.
We must not wait for some sham public hearing because time flies.
Joseph Manago
Briarwood
