FAA Plan To Change Departure Routes Criticized

Residents of northwest Las Vegas are battling the FAA -- and each other -- over the agency's proposal to have as many as 200 aircraft a day depart the field over their homes.

For years, most of the flights departing McCarren International Airport have flown over the relatively desolate southwest section of the city, but the FAA says with more and more people flying to Vegas a new flight path out of the airport is needed, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The new routing would send planes over the high-rent areas of Summerlin and the Lakes -- and as you can imagine, residents aren't happy.

"Why doesn't everybody share in the noise? Why should it just be one neighborhood?" asked Carolyn Willoughby, a resident from the southern portion of the city. "Summerlin isn't any more special than anywhere else."

"They may live in fancier houses, but we've lived here longer," one older south Las Vegas resident shouted in the meeting.

Residents to the north were equally adamant in their criticism of the FAA's plan. "I moved here because I wanted something quiet," said Linda Liegel, who bought her home in south Summerlin in 2003. "The change would've been fine if I had known about it in 2003."

Another north Las Vegas resident went so far as to state a plane crash over densely populated Summerlin or The Lakes would "kill thousands."

Even Mayor Oscar Goodman has gotten involved, saying he doesn't want aircraft flying over northern Las Vegas's University Medical Center... or, his nearby house.

Another meeting was expected to be held Thursday night to gain additional argument -- er, feedback -- from residents affected by the change. It may all be for naught, however, as many suspect the FAA has already made up its mind on the issue... which would mean planes will be flying over the area by June of 2006.

FMI: www.faa.gov