NYCAR LGA April meeting
Noise, health issues aired at the quarterly meeting
AIRPORT VOICE, APRIL 2021 45
BY MARIA BECCE
At its meeting on April 14, 2021,
the LGA Airport Committee of the
New York Community Aviation
Roundtable hosted a discussion concerning
Airport Noise and Health
Problems. The discussion was led
by representatives, Jamie Banks,
PhD, MS, and David Sykes, MA. Dr.
Banks is an environmentalist and
healthcare scientist with an extensive
background in health outcomes
and economics, environmental behavior
and policy. David Sykes is
the co-founder and Executive Chair
of the Acoustics Research Council
(ARC), a national non-profit formed
in 2004 to research, develop and promulgate
evidence-based acoustical
criteria for the Faculty Guidelines
Institute and the American Hospital
Association.
The panel was joined by special
guest Dr. Arline Bronzaft a researcher,
writer, and consultant on
the adverse effects of noise on mental
and physical health, and Daniel
Fink, M.D., Board Chair, The Quiet
Coalition.
Quiet Communities, Inc. (QCi)
is a nonprofit 501C3 organization
that is dedicated to helping communities
reduce health and environmental
harm from noise and pollution.
Each of its four programs
— Quiet Outdoors, Quiet Coalition,
Quiet Healthcare, and Quiet Conversation.
— strives to generate
long lasting structural and behavioral
changes that result in quieter,
more sustainable, and more livable
communities. At the core of QCi’s
work is a proven model of behavior
change built on constructive collaboration.
QCi is led by science,
health, and legal professionals concerned
about the impacts of noise
and pollution on health, environment,
learning, productivity, and
quality of life.
The organization believes in objective,
evidence-based approach to
the growing public health problem of
noise and pollution — combined with
educational outreach and organized
action — is the best path to meaningful
and permanent change.
A growing body of research suggests
that aircraft and traffic noise
can increase risk for heart problems,
reports The Atlantic. One
study found that people living near
Germany’s Frankfurt Airport had
a 7% higher chance of stroke than
those in similar but quieter neighborhoods.
Another analysis found
that nighttime cardiovascular
deaths were significantly higher
among people living near Zurich’s
airport after airplane flyovers. Researchers
have observed that even
when we’re asleep, a loud sound
causes the brain to activate a stress
response: blood pressure rises, hormones
flood the body, some arteries
constrict and others dilate. This
stress response can inflame the endothelium,
the inner lining of arteries
and blood vessels, which in
turn interferes with blood flow and
other crucial functions. Research
has shown that the endothelium is
impaired after just a few nights of
exposure to airplane noise. Mathias
Basner, president of the International
Commission on the Biological
Effects of Noise, says further
research is needed into this ‘silent
killer.’'
Another topic was the FAA’s
Neighborhood Environmental Survey.
The FAA urged the submission
of comments by the extended
period ending April 14. The NES
is a nationwide survey by the FAA
regarding annoyance related to
aircraft noise. It is part of FAA's
ongoing research program on aircraft
noise. The consensus by LGA
Committee/NYCAR is that aircraft
noise is not an annoyance. It is a
national health concern. Decades
of scientific evidence show that aviation
noise adversely affects cardiovascular
health, mental health,
learning, productivity, and quality
of life. The Honorable Russell E.
Train, former Administrator of the
EPA aptly stated: “We really know
what needs to be done. We have
simply lacked the will to do it. Let’s
get on with the job.”
The full New York Community
Aviation Roundtable, comprised of
the LGA and JFK Committees, meets
on April 28, 2021.
Shuttle off to JFK area
New Jamaica Transit option for GatewayJFK
GatewayJFK began a pilot for a
new shuttle service that transports
employees between the downtown
Jamaica transit hub and the GatewayJFK
district, a 215 acre commercial
district located adjacent to JFK
Airport on Rockaway Blvd. The area
is home to over 600 businesses who
employ an estimated 8,000 workers in
air cargo, logistics, hotel, food manufacturing,
and other industries.
During the two month pilot the
shuttle will operate free-of-charge
thanks to a grant from the New York
State Energy Research and Development
Authority, who is sponsoring
the shuttle as a means to encourage
workers in the area to mode shift to
away from private vehicles and use
mass transit.
After the pilot period is over, service
will continue with rides costing
$2.50. Commuters will be able to use
their mobile phones to track their
shuttle, reserve a seat, and digitally
pay for their ride with the Dollaride
app, a phone-based payment portal
that also works for many of the vehicles
that operate as part of New York’s
dollar van industry.
GatewayJFK and Dollaride are giving
away 60 free rides to people who
sign up during the pilot period at dollaride.
com/gateway-jfk-promotion.
Promotions, Retirements
and Recognitions
Robert Larkin has been appointed
to the position of Acting
Port Director of JFK Airport.
His reassignment effective
on March 29, 2021 through June
2021.
Prior Acting Port Director
Salvatore assigned as Assistant
Director of Field Operations
overseeing New York Center for
Intelligence, Targeting, and Enforcement.
Marily Mora has joined the
Port Authority as Aviation Strategy
Officer on Monday, Mora will
lead department-wide coordination
of business strategies that
advance our vision and mission
through leadership of the policy,
industry and regulatory affairs,
forecasting, governance, data
analytics and business intelligence,
air service development,
and strategic communications
functions.
Steve Brocchini has returned
to LaGuardia as Airport
Security Manager.
Mervin Peter has been
named the JFK Airport Security
Manager
Icema Gibbs has been promoted
to VP CSR and DEI.
Icema previously held the role
of director, corporate social responsibility
and diversity, equity
and inclusion, and is one
of JetBlue’s founding crewmembers.
Jennifer Smith of Worldwide
Flight Services (WFS) has
been appointed the role of UK
commercial director, cargo and
ground handling having previously
held cargo sales management
positions at Continental
Airlines, American Airlines and
Etihad Airways
Tim Karl, LEED AP has
joined VRH as Director of Preconstruction.
Nina Sanacore, Mobile Air
Transport appointed to VP Accounting
administration after 27
years with the firm.
Diana Herrera will retire
at the end of April. Diana has
served as an Allied Universal Security
(AUS) officer since April
26, 1992, and will retire on the
same day this year, marking 29
years of service.
New GatewayJFK Downtown Jamaica Shuttle