Changed air lanes

In the August 21 edition of the Central Leader, Auckland Airport aeronautical operations manager Judy Nicholl is quoted as saying planes ‘‘are flying the tracks they have been flying for many years’’ which completely contradicts the opening paragraph ‘‘New flight paths being trialled by Auckland Airport . . .’’

Ms Nicholl also states the new SMART approaches have had little discernible impact on central suburbs One Tree Hill, Epsom, Onehunga, Mt Roskill and Royal Oak.

I bought a house in Onehunga around four years ago and after moving in was immediately struck by the quiet, peaceful area.

In those years I had never heard a single plane, apart from the occasional recreational one, and the regular helicopters which seem to hover around quite often.

However in recent weeks I’ve noticed something previously unheard, planes flying overhead to and from the airport.

They are not particularly loud in the main, but seem to be coming more and more frequent, as close together as five minutes apart at times.

Some of them are really quite loud.

There seem to be at least six a day during the hours I am home.

Ms Nicholl also states that the planes only fly between 7am and 10pm.

I’ve heard two or three fly over nearly every night in the past two weeks between midnight-2am.

After that I’m asleep so for all I know they could be going all night.

Ms Nicholl obviously is not aware of what is going on.

Anyone in the areas mentioned who is concerned about this new noise nuisance should complain to the Auckland Airport, phone 256 8133 because if these new flight paths become permanent, the noise may well increase in volume and frequency of flights and it will be too late to do anything about it by then. ‘‘heightened awareness’’.

Apparently, after reading negative publicity about the new SMART trials of low flying aircraft over many central city neighbourhoods, I now have this condition which, among other things, enables me to hear aircraft overhead even with headphones on while listening to music.

I am also just as astonished to realise that, thanks to this condition, my eyesight has vastly improved.

If, as Ms Nicholl asserts ‘‘people believe planes are flying lower but they’re not’’ and I am now clearly able to make out logos and other detail on aircraft passing directly overhead, it is highly probable that I have ‘‘heightened awareness’’ to thank for this miracle as well.

This is great news Judy and, as you can imagine, my 92-year-old mother is also over the moon to be offered the ‘‘heightened awareness’’ technique, free of charge and so late in life.

Remarkable stuff from Auckland Airport, almost too good to be true.