Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Space Explorers & Workers
  Astronaut Roberto Vittori's noise complaints

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Astronaut Roberto Vittori's noise complaints
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-04-2017 03:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In 2015, a single individual was responsible for filing 6,500 noise complaints against Reagan International Airport in Washington, DC, more than 75 percent of the total figure (8,670). This Washingtonian was filing on average 18 complaints a day — every day — for 365 days.

The tale of the serial complainer culminated in a Washington Post article titled "Are you the person who filed 6,500 noise complaints against National Airport?" No one raised their hand. No one knew. Until now.

Roberto Vittori's dogged persistence single-handedly increased the number of noise complaints in DC by a factor of five. He spent countless evenings and weekends in 2015 filing noise complaint after noise complaint like a little old lady who has the bad fortune of living next to a rowdy fraternity house.

"This is already as I am describing it, you can have the flavor, a full-time job," Vittori, a 52-year-old Italian citizen and resident of Washington, DC, said.

It wasn't always like this. In 2013, when Vittori moved his family from Italy to Washington, DC, he thought his wooded neighborhood nestled behind Georgetown's campus was idyllic. He bought the house knowing full well there would be some noise overhead, but at the time it wasn't something to complain about. And then it got worse.

Shortly after Vittori moved, Reagan International shifted to a new flight navigation system known as NextGen. This multi-billion-dollar upgrade was developed to help cut carbon emissions and reduce how much fuel is used by providing airline pilots with more direct routes between origin and destination. The NextGen system plotted a new route for planes coming in and out of the DC airport that was closer to Vittori's backyard.

"From my bedroom I can see all the planes, and I can very easily identify them by sight," Vittori said. "However, I can also identify them by the noise," he added.

The Boeing 737's are the worst. Vittori compared the engine noise to having a vacuum cleaner next to your bedside. "Can you sleep when a vacuum cleaner is turned on?" he asked. "You cannot. You wake up."

rgarner
Member

Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 01-04-2017 03:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Am I the only one who likes the sound of airplanes taking off? Even at night I like the white noise caused by them.

I live near the busiest airport in the UK - lucky me I suppose.

JBoe
Member

Posts: 960
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 01-04-2017 06:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You're not weird... My wife and I lived off the flight line in Brunswick, Maine and we heard the P-3's taking off and landing. And if the wind was just right you could smell the exhaust!

MCroft04
Member

Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 01-04-2017 09:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MCroft04   Click Here to Email MCroft04     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I grew up in south Florida about 10 miles from the Pratt and Whitney plant where my father-in-law Lee worked. Almost every morning, around 2-3 AM, the windows in the house began shaking from the engines they were testing. I loved it!

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-04-2017 09:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I first moved to Houston, I stayed with a friend whose house was located near Ellington Airport. The first time a T-38 fired up its afterburner, I literally jumped — I had no idea what was making that loud noise.

I live farther away from the field now, but I still smile whenever I hear a flyover.

(That said, I think I might do as Vittori did if I lived next to an airport as busy as Reagan National.)

Mike Dixon
Member

Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-05-2017 04:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Dixon   Click Here to Email Mike Dixon     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Having worked on tarmacs with bug smashers right up to Galaxys. nothing bothers me save for the anger with fools who forgot to bring ear muffs.

Glint
Member

Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-05-2017 08:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Glint   Click Here to Email Glint     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I wonder what's keeping him from selling his house and returning to whence he came?

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 01-05-2017 10:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Reminds of when I was active duty. Each spring, we'd start firing artillery and someone who bought a house over the winter would complain to the post HQ. Once, a grizzled old civilian drove his truck onto the post, demanded to see the nearest officer to complain. Guess who that was?

I heard his complaint and then asked if he'd bought his house over the winter. He had. I said, "Sir, this post has been here since 1917, firing pretty much every spring through fall. You can take your complaint higher, I guess, but as this is the biggest regional training area, it's not going to change anything."

He was NOT amused, and neither was I. I have zero sympathy for someone who gets a good deal on a house due to the noise, then thinks they're going to stop that noise.

rgarner
Member

Posts: 1193
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 01-05-2017 10:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rgarner   Click Here to Email rgarner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Some people just like to complain. I get customers like that every now and again — you become pretty good at weeding out the genuine complaints from those who just want something to complain about.

But maybe that is a British thing?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 01-05-2017 10:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To be fair, the flight paths changed after Vittori and his family moved into their house. He had accepted there would be some noise, but it sounds (no pun intended) like the level increased dramatically after the implementation of the NextGen system.

The first "A" part of NASA has been advancing research on noise reduction for airplane engines to address trade-offs like Vittori has been experiencing.

Buel
Member

Posts: 649
From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 01-05-2017 03:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Buel   Click Here to Email Buel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've gotta say that I kind of liked the sound of that guy!! 😂

Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 01-05-2017 09:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Glint:
I wonder what's keeping him from selling his house and returning to whence he came?

He is trying to move. But think about it: Who will buy the house Vittori lives in now?

AstronautBrian
Member

Posts: 287
From: Louisiana
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 01-06-2017 07:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for AstronautBrian   Click Here to Email AstronautBrian     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I lived for a few years in Australia, we were not far from HMAS Albatross, a naval air station. On occasion fighter jets would take off/land but mostly it was C-130s and Sea King helicopters. It was always neat to see and hear them from the back porch. Also on occasion the army used the airfield for paratrooper training and we watched them jump.

However, I'm sure I would not be as enthused if I lived near a place with as much traffic as Reagan International.

eurospace
Member

Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 01-07-2017 10:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for eurospace   Click Here to Email eurospace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
But think about it: Who will buy the house Vittori lives in now?
A plane spotter?

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement