New Logan Aircraft Routes Could Mean Less Noise for Newton

Fewer Newton residents will be subjected to the noise of flying aircraft under a proposed plan to alter landing approach routes for planes heading toward Logan Airport in Boston.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s proposal would essentially change air route navigation for runway 33L to a satellite-guided system, according to a copy of the proposal. The change would result in 483 fewer Newton residents hearing aircraft noise.

“The proposed procedure would improve safety and efficiency at Logan Airport and has been ­designed as close as possible as an overlay to the current conventional flight departure procedure for Runway 33L,” FAA spokesman Jim Peters told the told the State House News Service.

Although fewer Newton residents will hear aircraft noise, many nearby communities will actually hear more aircraft noise with the new plan. In Waltham, 6,584 additional Waltham residents will hear aircraft noise. An additional 2,604 Belmont residents and 1,511 Watertown residents would also fall under the new route proposal.

Final plans are expected to go into effect on March 7. By 2015, 80 percent of Logan’s aircraft fleet would be using the new guidance system, according to the State House News Service.

The FAA is accepting public comment on the proposal through Feb. 15. 

For more information on the proposal, visit the proposal website.

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