Noise Complaints Fly at Santa Barbara City Council Hearing on Airport Master Plan
During a Santa Barbara City Council meeting, residents voiced concerns about the airport's noise levels, particularly from early morning and late-night flights. Goleta resident Leslie Lund and others on the noise-abatement committee described disturbances from flights departing as early as 5:07 a.m. and arriving as late as midnight. Some residents have invested in soundproofing to mitigate the noise.
Councilmember Mike Jordan raised concerns about the relationship between flight altitude and noise levels, though Airport Director Chris Hastert noted that altitude had minimal impact on the noise model. Complaints also extended to helicopters and loud aircraft, like the Osprey and private jets arriving late at night.
The airport's 20-year master plan, led by consultant Mead & Hunt, projects growth in passenger traffic and includes plans for vertiports, hangars, and taxiway improvements, with an estimated $179 million in costs, most of which could be covered by federal grants. The noise-abatement discussion continues, with suggestions for stricter noise measurements and penalties for disruptive flights, though specific consequences were not outlined.
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