Massport unveils Logan flight monitor on its Web site

By Todd Wright, Globe Correspondent, 8/16/2002

The Massachusetts Port Authority's latest effort to appease disgruntled neighbors of Logan Airport received a lukewarm reception yesterday as the authority unveiled a new Web site link designed to provide up-to-the-minute airport information on incoming and outbound flights.

Community activists are concerned the new site does not address the problem of thundering jet engines flying over homes or air pollution caused by jet fuel.

''This is a good first step because it gives the public some information, but what can you do with the info is the question?'' said Ralph Dormitzer of the South Shore Jet Pollution Council.

The link, called Airport Monitor, will make its debut Monday at www.massport.com. The link will provide users with information about flights and air traffic around Logan Airport. The international flight tracking system gives specific information about any flight within 90 miles of Logan Airport. Information once available only to air traffic controllers such as flight paths, altitude, origin and destination points, and airline, can now be accessed by the public. Flight location requests run on a 10-minute delay for security purposes.

Dormitzer, of Cohasset, was chosen to be a member of the Massport Website Technical Working Group, made up of airport-noise and pollution activists appointed by Massport and Mayor Thomas M. Menino to give suggestions on improving the Web site.

''One thing I would definitely want to see on there immediately is noise and decibel levels,'' Dormitzer said. ''The information they are giving might be useful, but it just confirms what we already know.''

Despite a rocky relationship in the past, Menino and Massport CEO Craig Coy were optimistic. Menino, who has long criticized Massport's treatment of city neighborhoods, said the move showed a willingness by the agency to work toward addressing neighborhood concerns. Recently, after Massport was given approval for a new runway, Menino lashed out, saying the agency did not go far enough in addressing community concerns and failed to adequately include the city in determining the proper use of the runway.

''We have had our disagreements,'' Menino said. '' But this is a very important day for all of us because it shows [Massport] is willing to listen.''

Coy, who became head of Massport four months ago, said the tracking system linked to the Web site was one of his top priorities when he took over. Massport will constantly add links containing more detailed information about flights. Coy emphasized that Airport Monitor, created by Megadata in Connecticut, was not designed to give noise or pollution readings.

''It's not a secret. The information is out there, and now it's available to the public,'' Coy said. ''But this system does not have ears.''

Other activists agreed with Menino and Coy, calling the new radar system a step forward. Craig Sonnenberg of Jamaica Plain, a spokesman for the Aircraft Noise Action Committee, said the new information will help pinpoint airlines that fly lowest to the ground and cause the most noise. With the new technology, neighbors can lodge complaints with times and flight numbers instead of sounding like whiners, Sonnenberg said.

''We have a right to know who these people are because they are having a severe impact on our lives,'' he said.

This story ran on page B3 of the Boston Globe on 8/16/2002.
© Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.
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