FAA Orders ATC to cease vectoring for noise abatement

Noise complaints at Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) have increased
substantially since the "Noise Abatement Procedures Are In Effect" NOTAM has
been omitted from the Airport Terminal Information Service (ATIS) broadcast
to all arriving and departing flights.

As a result of becoming involved with the homeowners association aircraft
noise abatement effort, I have learned that the FAA has ordered tower
controllers to victor flights exclusively for SAFE SEPARATION ONLY, contrary
to the regulations in FAA JO Order 7110.65Z
<https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/> which
prescribes how the National Airspace System (NAS) is to be operated by Air
FAA Traffic Control (ATC).

This new FAA policy was stated by Aaron Keller, Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA)
Operation Manager during the course of his noise abatement presentation to
the SB Airport Commission last night, August 18, 2021. The meeting video is
available here: <https://youtu.be/tXsEQnW9z0k?t=2832>, and his revelation
about the change in ATC vectoring is at ~50:10 where he reveals:

"The FAA Air Traffic Control tower has been required to change
procedures, and that previously they were vectoring aircraft for
voluntary noise abatement approaches. The FAA has come out and said
that you will vector aircraft for the intent of safe operation to
include safe separation of aircraft in flight. By doing a anything more
than that, they are putting the FAA in jeopardy of some type of legal
liability where they have vectored for intent of other than what their
orders allow them to vector for. So that has been a change."

These are the specific ATC 7110.65 regulations involved:

Section 6. Vectoring
5-6-1. APPLICATION
a. In controlled airspace for separation, safety, noise abatement,
operational advantage, confidence maneuver, or when a pilot requests.

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap5_section_6.html

5-6-2. METHODS
b. When initiating a vector, advise the pilot of the purpose, and if
appropriate, what to expect when radar navigational guidance is
terminated.
NOTE- Determine optimum routing based on factors such as wind,
weather, traffic, pilot requests, noise abatement, adjacent sector
requirement, and letters of agreement.

Section 5. Runway Selection

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap3_section_5.html
3-5-1 NOTE-
1. If a pilot prefers to use a runway different from that specified,
the pilot is expected to advise ATC.
2. At airports where a “runway use” program is established, ATC will
assign runways deemed to have the least noise impact. If in the
interest of safety a runway different from that specified is
preferred, the pilot is expected to advise ATC accordingly. ATC will
honor such requests and advise pilots when the requested runway is
noise sensitive.

General

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap7_section_1.html
7-1-2 a. You may clear aircraft to maintain “VFR conditions” if one of
the following conditions exists:
2. TERMINAL. The clearance will result in noise abatement benefits
where part of the IFR departure route does not conform to an FAA-
approved noise abatement route or altitude.

One of our homeowners related this:

"This morning we called the airport to inquire and complain and learned
that, yes indeed, pilots are being encouraged to take off and land
directly over us rather than over the empty meadow next to us, as in the
past. Why? Because of rising fuel prices."

Is anyone able to provide a copy of the document issued by the FAA
implementing this change in ATC operations? Pointers to any other documents
or information pertinent to this change in ATC operations would be
appreciated.

Is it possible that this ATC procedural change has anything to do with
current FAA Administrator Dickson who "spent nearly three decades at Delta
Air Lines, retiring as the senior vice president of flight operations for
Delta Air Lines."? Is Dickson, a Trump appointee, another rude tool against
our government similar to Trump's appointment of Oil lobbyist Scott Pruit to
head the Environmental Protection Agency, or his many other inappropriate
conflicting administrative appointments?

I find it curious that the FAA chose to delete the fact that "Steve Dickson
was sworn in as the FAA administrator by U.S. Department of Transportation
Secretary Elaine L. Chao on August 12, after being confirmed for a five-year
term by the U.S. Senate on July 24, 2019. Why would the FAA choose to hide
the fact that the FAA Administrator was sworn in by Elaine Chao? (Below are
the original August 27, 2019 and August 2, 2021 modified statements.)

It would appear that Ms. Chao may have some ties to big oil:

<https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2019/09/house-investigating-transportation-secretary-elaine-chaos-possible-conflicts-interest/159914/>
House Is Investigating Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s Possible
Conflicts of Interest

"Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who
has come under his own ethics scrutiny recently. The Washington Post
reported in August that McConnell supposedly lifted sanctions on a
Kremlin-linked oil company in exchange for building a large aluminum
plant in an area in Kentucky hit hard by job loss and the opioid
crisis."

FAA DICKSON ANNOUNCEMENTS:

March 18, 2021:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210318024518/https://www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/dickson/

FAA Home ? About FAA ? Key Officials
Steve Dickson
Administrator
Share
Print
Steve Dickson
Download a hi-res photo

Steve Dickson was sworn in as the FAA administrator by U.S. Department
of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao on August 12, after being
confirmed for a five-year term by the U.S. Senate on July 24, 2019.
Dickson recently retired from service as the senior vice president of
Flight Operations for Delta Air Lines.

In this role, he was responsible for the safety and operational
performance of Delta's global flight operations, as well as pilot
training, crew resources, crew scheduling, and regulatory compliance.
He also flew in line operations as an A320 captain, and previously
flew the B727, B737, B757, and B767 during his career. Captain Dickson
is a strong advocate for commercial aviation safety and improvements
to our National Airspace System, having served as chairman of several
industry stakeholder groups and Federal advisory committees.

A former United States Air Force Officer and F-15 fighter pilot,
Dickson is a Distinguished Graduate of the Class of 1979 at the United
States Air Force Academy, as well as a graduate of the Georgia State
University College of Law, magna cum laude.

Page last modified: August 27, 2019 12:45:03 PM EDT
==============================================================================

CURRENT:

https://www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/dickson/
FAA Home ? About FAA ? Key Officials
Steve Dickson
Administrator

Steve Dickson
High resolution photo

Steve Dickson was sworn in as the FAA administrator for a five-year
term on August 12, 2019, after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

At the FAA, Administrator Dickson has been staunch advocate for
safety, global leadership, operational excellence, and the health,
welfare and evolution of the FAA's workforce.

Before coming to the FAA, Dickson spent nearly three decades at Delta
Air Lines, retiring as the senior vice president of flight operations.
In this role, he was responsible for the safety and operational
performance of global flight operations, as well as pilot training,
crew resources, crew scheduling, and regulatory compliance. During his
career, he flew the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767.
Captain Dickson previously served as chairman of several industry
stakeholder groups and federal advisory committees.

Dickson is a distinguished graduate of the Class of 1979 at the United
States Air Force Academy. He graduated from Georgia State University
College of Law, magna cum laude. While on active duty, he flew the
T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainer and F-15 Eagle fighter jet.

You can follow Steve on Twitter at @FAA_Steve and on LinkedIn at
FAASteve. [<https://www.linkedin.com/in/faasteve>]

Page last modified: August 02, 2021 11:35:54 AM EDT
================================================================

Is it possible that this ATC procedural change reveals the administrator's
conflict of interest between the FAA's primary role of insuring air safety,
and furthering the economic interests of the airline industry?

Is it going to require legal action to restore inclusion of the "Noise
Abatement Procedures Are In Effect" NOTAM to the Airport Terminal
Information Service (ATIS) broadcast to all arriving and departing flights?

Larry Dighera, FAA Commercial Pilot certificate holder since 1970.

On Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 11:25:35 AM UTC-5, Larry Dighera wrote:
> FAA Orders ATC to cease vectoring for noise abatement
>
> Noise complaints at Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) have increased
> substantially since the "Noise Abatement Procedures Are In Effect" NOTAM has
> been omitted from the Airport Terminal Information Service (ATIS) broadcast
> to all arriving and departing flights.
>
> As a result of becoming involved with the homeowners association aircraft
> noise abatement effort, I have learned that the FAA has ordered tower
> controllers to victor flights exclusively for SAFE SEPARATION ONLY, contrary
> to the regulations in FAA JO Order 7110.65Z
> <https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/> which
> prescribes how the National Airspace System (NAS) is to be operated by Air
> FAA Traffic Control (ATC).
>
> This new FAA policy was stated by Aaron Keller, Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA)
> Operation Manager during the course of his noise abatement presentation to
> the SB Airport Commission last night, August 18, 2021. The meeting video is
> available here: <https://youtu.be/tXsEQnW9z0k?t=2832>, and his revelation
> about the change in ATC vectoring is at ~50:10 where he reveals:
>
> "The FAA Air Traffic Control tower has been required to change
> procedures, and that previously they were vectoring aircraft for
> voluntary noise abatement approaches. The FAA has come out and said
> that you will vector aircraft for the intent of safe operation to
> include safe separation of aircraft in flight. By doing a anything more
> than that, they are putting the FAA in jeopardy of some type of legal
> liability where they have vectored for intent of other than what their
> orders allow them to vector for. So that has been a change."
>
>
> These are the specific ATC 7110.65 regulations involved:
>
> Section 6. Vectoring
> 5-6-1. APPLICATION
> a. In controlled airspace for separation, safety, noise abatement,
> operational advantage, confidence maneuver, or when a pilot requests.
>
> https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap5_section_6.html
>
> 5-6-2. METHODS
> b. When initiating a vector, advise the pilot of the purpose, and if
> appropriate, what to expect when radar navigational guidance is
> terminated.
> NOTE- Determine optimum routing based on factors such as wind,
> weather, traffic, pilot requests, noise abatement, adjacent sector
> requirement, and letters of agreement.
>
> Section 5. Runway Selection
>
> https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap3_section_5.html
> 3-5-1 NOTE-
> 1. If a pilot prefers to use a runway different from that specified,
> the pilot is expected to advise ATC.
> 2. At airports where a “runway use” program is established, ATC will
> assign runways deemed to have the least noise impact. If in the
> interest of safety a runway different from that specified is
> preferred, the pilot is expected to advise ATC accordingly. ATC will
> honor such requests and advise pilots when the requested runway is
> noise sensitive.
>
> General
>
> https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap7_section_1.html
> 7-1-2 a. You may clear aircraft to maintain “VFR conditions” if one of
> the following conditions exists:
> 2. TERMINAL. The clearance will result in noise abatement benefits
> where part of the IFR departure route does not conform to an FAA-
> approved noise abatement route or altitude.
>
>
> One of our homeowners related this:
>
> "This morning we called the airport to inquire and complain and learned
> that, yes indeed, pilots are being encouraged to take off and land
> directly over us rather than over the empty meadow next to us, as in the
> past. Why? Because of rising fuel prices."
>
> Is anyone able to provide a copy of the document issued by the FAA
> implementing this change in ATC operations? Pointers to any other documents
> or information pertinent to this change in ATC operations would be
> appreciated.
>
> Is it possible that this ATC procedural change has anything to do with
> current FAA Administrator Dickson who "spent nearly three decades at Delta
> Air Lines, retiring as the senior vice president of flight operations for
> Delta Air Lines."? Is Dickson, a Trump appointee, another rude tool against
> our government similar to Trump's appointment of Oil lobbyist Scott Pruit to
> head the Environmental Protection Agency, or his many other inappropriate
> conflicting administrative appointments?
>
> I find it curious that the FAA chose to delete the fact that "Steve Dickson
> was sworn in as the FAA administrator by U.S. Department of Transportation
> Secretary Elaine L. Chao on August 12, after being confirmed for a five-year
> term by the U.S. Senate on July 24, 2019. Why would the FAA choose to hide
> the fact that the FAA Administrator was sworn in by Elaine Chao? (Below are
> the original August 27, 2019 and August 2, 2021 modified statements.)
>
> It would appear that Ms. Chao may have some ties to big oil:
>
>
> <https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2019/09/house-investigating-transportation-secretary-elaine-chaos-possible-conflicts-interest/159914/>
> House Is Investigating Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s Possible
> Conflicts of Interest
>
> "Chao is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who
> has come under his own ethics scrutiny recently. The Washington Post
> reported in August that McConnell supposedly lifted sanctions on a
> Kremlin-linked oil company in exchange for building a large aluminum
> plant in an area in Kentucky hit hard by job loss and the opioid
> crisis."
>
>
> FAA DICKSON ANNOUNCEMENTS:
>
> March 18, 2021:
> https://www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/dickson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20210318024518/https://www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/dickson/
>
> FAA Home ? About FAA ? Key Officials
> Steve Dickson
> Administrator
> Share
> Print
> Steve Dickson
> Download a hi-res photo
>
> Steve Dickson was sworn in as the FAA administrator by U.S. Department
> of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao on August 12, after being
> confirmed for a five-year term by the U.S. Senate on July 24, 2019.
> Dickson recently retired from service as the senior vice president of
> Flight Operations for Delta Air Lines.
>
> In this role, he was responsible for the safety and operational
> performance of Delta's global flight operations, as well as pilot
> training, crew resources, crew scheduling, and regulatory compliance.
> He also flew in line operations as an A320 captain, and previously
> flew the B727, B737, B757, and B767 during his career. Captain Dickson
> is a strong advocate for commercial aviation safety and improvements
> to our National Airspace System, having served as chairman of several
> industry stakeholder groups and Federal advisory committees.
>
> A former United States Air Force Officer and F-15 fighter pilot,
> Dickson is a Distinguished Graduate of the Class of 1979 at the United
> States Air Force Academy, as well as a graduate of the Georgia State
> University College of Law, magna cum laude.
>
> Page last modified: August 27, 2019 12:45:03 PM EDT
> ==============================================================================
>
>
> CURRENT:
>
> https://www.faa.gov/about/key_officials/dickson/
> FAA Home ? About FAA ? Key Officials
> Steve Dickson
> Administrator
>
> Steve Dickson
> High resolution photo
>
> Steve Dickson was sworn in as the FAA administrator for a five-year
> term on August 12, 2019, after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
>
> At the FAA, Administrator Dickson has been staunch advocate for
> safety, global leadership, operational excellence, and the health,
> welfare and evolution of the FAA's workforce.
>
> Before coming to the FAA, Dickson spent nearly three decades at Delta
> Air Lines, retiring as the senior vice president of flight operations.
> In this role, he was responsible for the safety and operational
> performance of global flight operations, as well as pilot training,
> crew resources, crew scheduling, and regulatory compliance. During his
> career, he flew the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767.
> Captain Dickson previously served as chairman of several industry
> stakeholder groups and federal advisory committees.
>
> Dickson is a distinguished graduate of the Class of 1979 at the United
> States Air Force Academy. He graduated from Georgia State University
> College of Law, magna cum laude. While on active duty, he flew the
> T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainer and F-15 Eagle fighter jet.
>
> You can follow Steve on Twitter at @FAA_Steve and on LinkedIn at
> FAASteve. [<https://www.linkedin.com/in/faasteve>]
>
> Page last modified: August 02, 2021 11:35:54 AM EDT
> ================================================================
>
> Is it possible that this ATC procedural change reveals the administrator's
> conflict of interest between the FAA's primary role of insuring air safety,
> and furthering the economic interests of the airline industry?
>
> Is it going to require legal action to restore inclusion of the "Noise
> Abatement Procedures Are In Effect" NOTAM to the Airport Terminal
> Information Service (ATIS) broadcast to all arriving and departing flights?
>
> Larry Dighera, FAA Commercial Pilot certificate holder since 1970.