Dear Editor,
It has been increasingly obvious that the silent majority have reservations on the continued expansion of the YPK airport – based on social media commentary and letters being written to newspapers.
YPK has grown from a community based airport 10 years ago to one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada – largely based on the takeoffs and landings of flight schools.
Two issues have been highlighted that has created concern in the community: Lead exposure accumulation from small aircrafts and noise pollution.
Lead exposure
An article by Dr. Paul Kershaw, of UBC, highlighted the science-based dangers of long-term exposure to lead from small community airports.
RELATED GUEST OPINION: Pitt Meadows airport traffic raises concerns about pollution
Lead has long been banned as a toxic substance that leads to cancer and developmental issues for children.
In the case of YPK, the large majority of their traffic is from flight schools. These small aircraft use leaded fuel. The aircraft take off, circle, land, and repeat at low altitudes, sometimes only five to 10 storeys above homes and blueberry fields.
Lead does not go away – it only accumulates over time. Is this what we want for our community, children, and food supply?
Noise pollution level and duration
Noise pollution is now widely regarded as a health concern with the medical community.
The flight school planes are not like commercial aircraft that take off and head to a destination. They will take off within a minute of each other, circle, bank, land, and repeat for hours on end.
Depending on wind direction, this can run all day from 7 a.m. to as late as 11 p.m. You can no longer enjoy your own back patio and have a conversation during these flight training exercises.
In addition, helicopters fly routinely directly over homes at top speed and low altitudes, again as low as 100 feet or equivalent of a 10-storey building. Some pilots are more respectful than others, but there is no regulation or enforcement. Simply putting minimum altitudes and altering flight path slightly would solve the issue.
However, helicopter businesses are interested in saving time and fuel to improve their profit margins at the cost of Pitt Meadows citizens quality of life.
Noise registers regularly well above 70 decibels and over 80 at times. 70 decibels is the level many municipalities use as a ceiling for maximum neighbourhood noise.
Many noisy industries, such as construction and yardworks, are restricted to operating 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in many communities. Why should a local airport surrounded by housing be any different?
At a public forum held eight years ago, some pilots suggested altering flight paths – such as they have in Langley and Qualicum – to mitigate noise levels.
However, YPK’s general manager Guy Miller, who was not a Pitt Meadows citizen, was able to sell a self-policing “good neighbour” policy instead.
With no outside oversight, it’s clear this policy is not working for the residents of Pitt Meadows.
YPK’s website no longer even responds to emails or complaints.
With no subdivision located to the north, south and west, it is only to the east that YPK would mainly need to address on noise issues. The airport was given the mandate to grow the airport and grow they have.
I understand growth and need for tax revenue but some balance needs to be applied. YPK is looking after its goals and the corporations that operate at YPK. This is to maximize revenue and continue to grow. It is already very disruptive.
How far will this go?
It is elected officials’ duties to assess the balance between businesses-tax revenue and the quality of life for its citizens and the environmental impact.
In this case, there is clearly a lack balance with the unchecked expansion.
The argument that we chose to live by an airport does give free reign to YPK to operate as they wish. Any corporation operating in Canada that infringes on our environment or our health needs to be held accountable. A framework needs to be established to achieve this.
I urge those concerned to contact the mayor (nmacdonald@pittmeadows.ca) and council (council@pittmeadows.ca) to express your concern.
Garrick Jay, Pitt Meadows
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