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Is Peter O. Knight Airport Keeping You Awake?
by Bill Sharpe
The Peter O. Knight Airport on Davis Islands must make a couple changes, otherwise it will not survive.
The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority is trying to tackle two issues at once. Their main runway is too short, and there is no more storage room for aircraft.
The airport is currently operating under a regulation waiver (basically a temporary permit), until a safety zone of 240 feet can be added to the main runway. Additionally, the demand for space at the airport continues to increase. The waiting list for enclosed hangar space has reached over 130.
To remedy these problems, the Hillsborough Aviation Authority has authorized an expenditure of over $1.8 million to add the required runway extension, and to build additional hangar space on the east side of the runway, adjacent to Seddon Channel. Plans are for 13 new hangar spaces to be completed by the end of 2008, with more to follow over several years. But Davis Islandsā residents have some concerns.
The current plan is to extend the north east end of the runway by 65 feet, and add 175 feet to the south end of the runway. During a meeting on September 18, some residents voiced concerns about larger aircraft using the longer runway, and any related increase in the volume of noise generated there.
While neighborhood opposition has not been significant, the amount of misinformation seems to be. Sound tests conducted by the Aviation Authority showed an increase of 3db or less over current usage at the closest residences, or an average of about 58db during run ups to take off. During the same tests, nearby lawn mowers, motorcycles, and automobiles frequently reached over 75db.
On a recent afternoon, we were at the airport as some military jet aircraft approached MacDill Air Force Base. Those craft were significantly louder than any airplanes taking off or landing at Peter O. Knight.
Engine types, pilot control, and other conditions do affect sound levels near the airport. But these necessary improvements will not change the size or types of aircraft that are allowed to use the airport. And even though the runway will be closer to some homes, the actual touchdown location of arriving aircraft will not be altered from the current location.
If the safety zone extension is not completed, the longest runway at Peter O. Knight Airport would have to be significantly shortened. This would result in as many as 40% of the existing traffic unable to use the airport on Davis Islands. In order to maintain the current operation of the airport, the extension of a runway is not an option, it is mandated by the FAA for safety.
Unfortunately, at the meeting in September, public comment did not seem to address the safety issue specifically, but rather, opposition to the airport altogether.
We would like to hear your opinion. Please leave your thoughts below under comments and vote in our readerās poll.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:57 am
If more hangers at the airport means more prefab aluminum buildings which look as if they belong in some God-forsaken industrial park, I’m wholeheartedly against them. Period.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I would like to know where these tests were performed at!?!? I live at 629 E. Davis Blvd where the planes stop 50ft from my house to perform engine tests before they take off. The fact that 58db was recorded from an aircraft at Peter O. Knight is absolutely ridiculous! It kind of feels like a spit in the face to be honest! I know for a fact that when a plane comes next to my home to perform its engine tests that the decibels exceed over 100 decibels! I can’t even carry on a conversation on the telephone when a plane pulls next to my home. However, the noise is the least of my concern! Before anybody decides to put up more hangers and expand Peter O. Knight they need to think of the safety of the residents around the airport. I personally lost my home due to a crash in June 2006. Whether the airplane knew where the airport was or not is beside the point. Fact is as easy as it was for that plane to skip out of the airport boundaries and into my home it could easily happen again. Until I get a cable up around the fence of Peter O. Knight I can guarantee there will be no expansion to that airport! It’s amazing how Peter O. Knight wants to expand to comfort the 70 extra people that want to park their planes their but they have no respect for the thousands of residents of Davis Island!
October 4th, 2007 at 9:33 am
I am in the process of finding out what is REALLY GOING ON. I am collecting data and I have been asked by a certain Politician’s office to collect all the REAL facts as we know them and submit any questions that have not been answered to our satisfaction. Already we found out that some of the information we received was misleading pertaining to the noise situation. The person that is assisting me will advise me what is fact and what is fiction.
I will make sure I publish everything once I receive it back even if I have to knock on everyone’s door to make sure they have a copy. I have some of the residents helping me out on this matter since it is hard for me to trust anyone. I want to find out what our rights are and I will. I will confirm what the REAL FACTS and will be sure to make that known to everyone on the Island. Everyone can make their own decisions once I lay it down on the table. With Due respect Mr. Sharpe you missed the boat. Noise is a real issue. Safety is a real issue. I live Adjacent to Tate and I have issues with planes flying in low and loud in the middle of the night. I too had been affected as well as other surrounding neighbors. Things are being done behind our backs and I’m going to find out what it is.
October 4th, 2007 at 9:41 am
One of the other upsetting comments that are constantly being made is that “We were here first”, we can do what we want” by a certain individual representing Peter O’Knight. The other comments made were that they already received “permission to do what they plan to do and they don’t need anyone’s permission to put up the hangers and make changes to the runway”. So I will alert all of you what the real story is and who is involved. And as for the noise issue they did the testing. Is anyone surprised?
October 4th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I am a resident of Davis Islands and live about 4 houses north of the airport. In reading the comments submitted to date, I am concerned that only the people against the expansion of the airport are voicing their opinions. I hear the planes doing run-ups, take off, and land. The related noise does not even interrupt a conversation. Regarding the addition of hangar space, we already have the buildings so any additional do not represent a major visual change. Most importantly to me, however, is the concern over what would be done with the land if ther airport were closed. My guess is that it would be sold to developers who would build multi-story residential condominiums. Such use of the land would cause greatly increased traffic and resulting danger to Island residents who now enjoy a relatively safe environment to walk, ride bikes, etc. Because of this, I support the airport and its continued existence.
October 5th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Living just four houses north of the airport has only been a problem when the wind is out of the southern quadrent and the pilots have to run up their engines prior to take-off. But the noise is no worse than my neighbor’s weed whacker or leaf blower at nine o’clock at night.
The airport is a good neighbor, and sensitive development such as extended runways for safety compliance, or additional hangars to protect the airplanes and reduce potential storm debris in the event of a hurricane are povitive steps in my opinion.
I enjoy the stop overs of interesting aircraft during sun-n-fun fly-in week, as well as the Red Barons during Gasparilla. I wish some small commuter airlines operated out of Peter O. Knight so I wouldn’t have to go to TIA all the time when I have to go to Naples or Miami.
I don’t fly, and have no desire to own an airplane, but I do own a boat at Davis Islands Yacht club, and consider the airport a good neighbor. I would much rather have the airport than some large residential development in its location that would increase traffic and further restrict the view and access to the water at the south end of the island.
October 5th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I promised all of you I would find out what is going on and I will.
So far Warren sent me an email stating that a 2nd test was performed and that there is now a difference of 22DB. I am in the process of finding out if the person that took the test is a licensed engineer or a real expert pertaining to noise. I would like to see a copy of his resume. I should have more info next week.
Mr. Anderson I travel all over the USA and mostly handle Hurricane losses. Hurricanes, Floyd, Charlie, Francis, Ivan, Katrina, Rita and Wilma just to name a few. Been doing this for fifteen years. Those buildings can also fall apart and we could get debris from those too. They are made out of metal. Just think of them as large mobile homes. Notice what always falls apart first when a storm hits. I do not wish to have that section of land look like warehouse city. A factory City. Maybe there could be a compromise but at this point I’m going to dig deeper into this and I’ll have more info next week. I will be sure to post it. If everything else is being done for “our safety”, I’ll be sure to post the facts as I receive them. Once all of the facts are confirmed than we can all take a vote on this. I just don’t feel like we are being told everything and I’m tired of the attitude that “we can do what we want to do and we were here first”. News as it comes in will be provided.
October 5th, 2007 at 10:32 am
One of the things I forgot to mention is that I will need to confirm if the 2nd test was performed by a licensed Acoustic Engineer and done under Nationally recognized standards in a controlled area.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Anyone that says that the noise is no louder than a weed wacker is out of their mind! I live next to the smaller runway as most of you probably already know, and planes are told to perform engine tests before take off. Come on down to the corner of Channel Dr. and East Davis Blvd. and see what its like to have an engine test being done during an early saturday morning breakfast. By all means I’ll even cook the breakfast. I have no problem with the airport the way that it is now, however, more planes is more noise and I just don’t want it. However, before anyone even begins to build new hangers they will build a cable to catch planes that could possibly slide off of the runway!
October 16th, 2007 at 4:47 am
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I went to the meeting yesterday at the Airport. I tried to get some of your questions answered and I was interrupted a total of three times by Phyllis on your Civic Association and eventually walked out in order to control myself from really getting ticked and what happened was mild. Special thanks to Lisa Devito for opening her mouth and helping me investigating what is going on. She should be President of the Association. I eventually walked back into the meeting and spoke with Paul Phillips after Phillis and her clan were gone. Paul Phillips is the Director of General Aviation. After speaking with him I do feel that they are willing to work with us pertaining to the changes being made at the Airport. It seems a lot of what is going on may be out of our hands. I am still accumulating information from a friend and will post that information once it is received since that person is one of the few and I do mean few honest Politicians out there. This person is not on the Aviation Board and can only provide us with information as most of what is going on is out of this persons hands. As for the 2nd test I feel it is not valid in my eyes. Not part of a nationally recognized system and done in a controled environment from someone that is a real Engineer. It seems that some of the residents were happy with the 2nd results that showed a 22DB difference but thats okay if you feel that way. This test was not done on any recognized standards but Warren made his point and the airport seemed to listen. Warren Cohen did succeed with the airport pertaining to time and having the run-ups further out. When I tried to talk about the 32 buildings going up. (13 to start) Phyllis of your board interrupted me and felt that it had nothing to do with the meeting at the airport and that it had nothing to do with noise. There will be more planes for those hangers and the planes that are already sitting out there will stay there except for those that are able to purchase or lease those hangers. Gee wiz people if more planes go into those buildings can someone out there tell me if it relates to noise or am I the idiot. As for the Master Plan there is one. I am trying to obtain a copy of that. I found it strange that Phyllis (whatever her last name is) from your Civic Board cut me off three times and once at the Civic meeting when I just wanted to speak for a few minutes and voice the concerns of the neighbors that are surrounding me inclusive of the Tate’s and their boy that posted above. I found out that the reason why the rest of us are being treated like dog dung is because she as well as your other board member are concerned over their park and large Pinellas trail like sidewalk that they want to put along the channel and just outside of the airport. They received $1,000,000.00 from TGH for this project. Due to the size of the walkway that they want it may require the airport to move the fence. Gee no conflict there. I guess I will get to hear a bunch of men wearing womens spandex at 5:00AM chatting as they are riding their bikes by my house. That is more important to the Davis Island Civic Association than anything else or our concerns. Do me a favor vote those people out. I am not against the airport I was just very upset over the first meeting and what was said. I do feel that the airport is willing to work with us but it appears this may be a done deal and I will find out more. I also asked if they could put some plants or something around those buildings and maybe cut down on the amount of the buildings. They stated they would really consider that and I do believe them. It makes me wonder how much more negotiation we had in terms of having less buildings. But because of what you elected to be on your Civic Association it seems that portion may be null and void. By the way.. This will NOT STOP me from going to any more meetings despite Phillis trying to shut the rest of us up. I think at this point we just need to work together because it looks like this may be a done deal. Again my friend is working on additional information and I will post that when it comes in. Sorry about not getting through sooner but I did have email problems. I would really like to hear your thoughts and your questions so I can present them to the proper people. It does not seem like the top two people at the Civic Association don’t give a hoot except for their park but the other people are truly helping. Just vote the proper people out.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:09 am
I did forget to mention that the airport people said that as a result of the airport runway being changed that more powerful planes would not be coming in. But more planes will obviously be coming in as a result of the increased hangers. As for Mr. Tate I asked the airport to contact you direct. I hope that happens. Again I spoke with these people after the Civic Association left and I am only stating what I had been told. When I get the other info back it WILL BE POSTED. And I had been told I am on their list of people to call when they have meetings. There was one last week with the Mayor but I received such short notice I did not know about it after the fact.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:50 am
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