BRIGHTON — A presentation Tuesday night in Adams County on how noise will be reduced as a result of changing the way airplanes will be tracked in and out of Denver International Airport was met with some skepticism.
“This sounds like a winning proposition — not that I always believe the government — but so then why are we here?” one resident asked. “You’re showing me all of this stuff, but I’m not a pilot. I’m a regular guy.”
The new tracking system — Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen — was introduced earlier this year by the Federal Aviation Administration, but county officials found residents were still not well-informed of the changes coming later this year.
NextGen will track airplanes, currently monitored by ground radar, with Global Positioning System satellites.
The technology will allow planes to ascend and descend quicker and at an angle closer to a diagonal route instead of following a staircase-like path — the major change that is expected to reduce noise.
The new system is also expected to increase capacity for more flights, as well as create more fuel efficiency.
County and DIA officials have been receiving questions about flight-route changes because of recent runway construction, so county officials decided it was time for start more communication.
Currently, arrivals are expected to make the changes in December, while the airplanes landing at DIA will have until February to make the changes.
