In addition to the note from the mayor’s office, I’ve also included responses from city council members Nick Licata and Sally Clark.
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Letter from the mayor’s office
From: Mayor’s Office and CSB (imailagent)
Date: Aug 16, 2006 12:48 PM
Subject: Please Respond (Intranet Quorum IMA00356509)
To: [email protected]
I appreciate your concerns regarding the distress that the Blue Angels cause you during Seafair. This month long festival is a celebration of the community spirit of Puget Sound and includes over thirty events each summer, drawing more than one million spectators.
The FAA has responsibility for low flying aircraft and aircraft noise. Station inspectors are onsite watching the Blue Angels fly during all their performances and will know if there are any violations. In over thirty years of performing in Seattle, there has never been an accident. The City of Seattle does receive a small number of complaints annually about the noise caused by the planes (10 in 2005 and 17 in 2006).
Through the media, Seafair organizers notify the public when practices and performances will be occurring so that alternate arrangements can be made if desired. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Seafair staff at (206) 728-0123. Seafair is a private organization and not part of city government.
I am sorry this event causes you distress. Thank you for voicing your concerns. I hope you find the above information helpful.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Brush
City of Seattle
Citizens Service Bureau
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Nick Licata letter
Thank you for writing Councilmember Licata about the Blue Angels performance during Seafair.
The Federal Aviation Administration has jurisdiction over when and where the Blue Angels perform, and over regulation of noise from airplanes.
Their phone number for low flying aircraft is 425-227-1389.
As for your question about whether Councilmember Licata had experienced the Blue Angels on Capitol Hill–he lived there for over 20 years.
Sincerely,
Newell Aldrich
Aide to Councilmember Licata
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Sally Clark letter
Welcome to Capitol Hill in the summer. Have I experienced this rumble first hand? I lived on Capitol Hill in approximately 1992, but later I moved to Columbia City (on a hill a half mile from the hydro pits) and now I live on the edge of madness just south of Seward Park. In each of these situations I have been able to wave at the pilots from EXTREMELY close range.
The jets aren’t my cup of tea, but they are quite popular with a lot of folks around town. To be honest, I have received just one or two complaints this year. I know there have been discussions in years past about limits on the performances, but these proposals have not gone very far. I was surprised to learn from your blog that the flights were banned in some years. I did not know that.
The City of Seattle doesn’t issue any kind of permit that I know of to Seafair for the Blue Angels. That means we have little leverage should there be momentum for a change. Seafair issues the invitation, so I would suggest sending your letter to the Seafair board. FAA and King County Airport may be places to consult regarding the permits, flight paths, frequency, flight heights, etc. And then there’s the Washington Department of Transportation which would be responsible for closing the I-90 bridge during the performances.
I hope the rest of your summer is mercifully quiet.
Sally
