Planes coming and going from the Qualicum Beach Airport are causing issues for nearby residents concerned over noise and pollution. (Town of Qualicum Beach)

By Alex Rawnsley

engine noise

‘One day it was 40-some passes over my house:’ Qualicum residents concerned over noisy airport traffic

Feb 2, 2024 | 5:26 AM

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed the first quote to Silvia Isachsen, when it was in fact a separate individual who was unidentified in the meeting. NanaimoNewsNOW apologizes for this error.

QUALICUM BEACH — Some local residents are calling for change to procedures in a bid to reduce, or eliminate, excessive noise from the town’s airport.

Boosted by a new online system launched late last year, the Town received 62 noise complaints in 2023 with nearly half stemming from three properties in particular.

One local resident, who did not provide their name at the meeting, said she submitted seven herself and told councillors during a public forum on Wednesday, Jan. 31, some days it’s a near-constant distraction and impediment.

“One day it was 40-some passes over my house between…a short period of about six hours. Another day it was 50 passes over and around, noisy passes. The answers [from the Town on their complaints] were always that no rules were violated, that’s the issue.”

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In addition to the 62 recorded complaints, those looking for the Town to make changes also gathered signatures via petition in a bid to express the size and scope of the issue.

Typical operations at the airport see planes depart the facility by either runway 29 to the north-west, or runway 11 to the south-east.

In most cases, existing noise abatement procedures dictate turns to the south to keep planes away from more populated areas, or ensure planes reach a minimum altitude and distance away from the runway before making turns.

The pattern, or general path planes fly around the airport, is also situated to the south over largely rural property.

However, moves to minimize noise aren’t enough for some who live nearby.

A map of general flight paths and approaches around the Qualicum Beach Airport, including departure paths from both ends of the single runway. (Google Maps)

One resident who spoke Wednesday said he lives 500 metres away from the airport boundary and has helicopters “doing donuts over my house”.

The noise is affecting his ability to work from home.

“I have a hard time conducting my business from my home…I attend a lot of meeting as a consequence of working from home and I find it being compromised in terms of concentration because of the noise of the helicopter going over my house, recorded at 82 decibels.”

In addition to the noise abatement procedures, Qualicum Beach Airport officially closes between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., affecting both personal and commercial operations.

Exceptions are made for emergency situations.

Despite their objections to noise, no resident called for the closure of the facility and some audibly disagreed with another speaker when it was suggested people were seeking the airport to shut down.

Sigmund Sort, a long-time pilot and flight instructor said the hours of operation were essentially unprecedented in Canada.

“It’s an incredible restriction on all operators, not known to exist anywhere else in Canada, that’s a huge hit. If I want to be selfish for a moment, if I want to go to Vancouver in my personal aircraft and come back, I have to land by 10 p.m. or land at Nanaimo, arrange for transportation to come home then arrange for transportation back to Nanaimo the next day.”

He added it was “extremely rare” for pilots to deviate from noise abatement procedures, and would only do so for the safety of their plane and passengers.

Several requests were made for the Town to adjust flight paths in and out of the airport in a bid to keep planes away from populated areas.

It’s something which is easier said than done.

Flight paths are regulated and enforced by Transport Canada, in consultation with local authorities.

Kevin Goldfuss, manager of Qualicum Beach Airport, said it was not possible to dictate or force pilots depart in a single direction every time.

“When a pilot is on a runway, there’s many contributing factors such as weather, winds, air traffic. Those are decisions a pilot must make upon departure on this case. They will choose based on wind direction as an example to go off runway 29 which will take them west, or 11 which would take them east.”

The discussion came in light of a consultant report which said the airport is a safe and secure site, and one which is needed in the community for recreational, commercial and emergency use.

However the report’s author, Rob Beynon from Operations Economics Inc., said the facility lacks a development plan and noise is an issue with the property which requires more support and guidance.

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