FAA changes mean more planes can fly over Palo Alto — and residents aren't happy

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2107 file photo, the air traffic control tower is in sight as a plane takes off from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco. FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2107 file photo, the air traffic control tower is in sight as a plane takes off from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco. Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close FAA changes mean more planes can fly over Palo Alto — and residents aren't happy 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

A change in flight path over the Peninsula has Palo Alto residents so up in arms, the city council is considering suing the Federal Aviation Administration.

The change to the flight path, dubbed the "PIRAT arrival route," is seemingly minor. The flight path funnels planes approaching the Bay Area from the Pacific Ocean to a waypoint near Woodside, the unincorporated San Mateo County town west of Menlo Park and Palo Alto. Then, the planes are directed by air traffic control to the appropriate airport and runway.

Previously, the flight path was only available to a handful of carriers arriving at San Francisco International Airport, said spokesperson Ian Gregor. Now, the PIRAT route will be open to all carriers landing at both SFO and Oakland International Airport.

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Palo Alto city leaders are concerned that with increased air traffic through the area, more overhead noise will become an even larger nuisance, reports Palo Alto Online. However, Gregor doesn't anticipate a deluge of additional planes coming through the area. Even though planes from all carriers weren't formally assigned the route prior to PIRAT, air traffic controllers were still directing them through the area.

Palo Alto City Council decided at a meeting Monday that they would meet in closed session to consider filing a lawsuit against the FAA.

Overhead flight noise has been an ongoing source of tension for years along the Peninsula. The problem started in 2015 when the FAA began implementing the NextGen program, which replaced ground-based navigation with satellite technology to reduce air-traffic volume. The program directed planes coming in and out of SFO through a narrower travel area, reported Palo Alto Online, which significantly increased noise levels over those narrow corridors.

The FAA claims increased efficiency from the program allows airlines to schedule more flights, use less fuel, and reduce carbon emissions, as SFGate reported in 2016.

Alix Martichoux is an SFGate supervising producer. Read her latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.