Voices from the Community

June 2, 2020

Below are two emails regarding the noise and pollution generated by Hillsboro Aero Academy, formerly Hillsboro Aviation. Both are printed here with the permission of the authors. Hillsboro Aero Academy's international flight training school is responsible for generating frequent noise intrusions, emitting multiple tons of lead over the region, and releasing a host of other pollutants into the environment during its years of operation in Oregon. The negative impacts of the flight training industry were foisted on impacted residents without a vote of the people.

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The first email was sent by a Hillsboro resident to the FAA Ombudsman. Katie Riley has a long history of serving her community. She is currently President and Chair of Washington County Kids. She also serves on the Board of Sequoia Mental Health Services and the Hillsboro Inukai Boys and Girls Society. Additional biographical information and a list of other community organizations she is affiliated with are available at her website, http://www.katieriley.org/. She and her husband, Oregon State Senator Chuck Riley, have devoted many years of their lives to public service.

From: Katie Riley
Date: Wed, May 27, 2020
Subject: Hillsboro Airport noise and lead emissions
To: 9-awa-noiseombudsman@faa.gov

I am really concerned because the Hillsboro Airport has a flight school that is operating and causing irreparable harm to citizens. Even during this time when there is supposed to be social distancing, the flights over the area are frequent, noisy, and in old aircraft that are more likely to emit lead. A particular problem is their use of an older twin engine prop plane that is constantly doing "touch and go's" over Hillsboro residents. This also happens with "piper cub-type" flights. There should not be a flight school in Hillsboro. It should be located a long way from a city/town of 100,000 people and not in the heart of it. Small children are constantly being exposed to noise and lead. Why is this school operating? It is training mostly pilots from South Korea and China. This should not be our priority--it is not an essential service. It only provides the private operator with profit. The US government should not be subsidizing that operation and it should be regulating it to make sure that US citizens are not harmed.

Thank you,
Katie Riley
Hillsboro, OR

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Readers are encouraged to register their complaints and concerns with the FAA Noise Ombudsman; the email address is 9-awa-noiseombudsman@faa.gov.

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The second email was sent by Judy Hagerty. She is one of a number of Central Oregon residents who have contacted Oregon Aviation Watch due to ongoing noise and pollution generated by Hillsboro Aero Academy. Though the academy is based at the Redmond Airport, student pilots often fly between various airports in the region including Redmond, Madras, Prineville and Bend.

Central Oregon residents experienced a significant increase in aviation activity several years ago following a decision by Hillsboro Aero Academy to train Chinese pilots at the Redmond Airport. See these Bend Bulletin articles for additional information:

• Hillsboro Aero Academy Opens Redmond Campus (12/1/2017)
• Noise Complaints Grow with Plane Traffic at Redmond Airport (7/9/2019)

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From: Judy Hagerty
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020
To:miki@oregonaviationwatch.org
Subject: Hillsboro Aero Academy

Oregon Aviation Watch,


Please do whatever necessary to stop the Hillsboro Aero Academy from flying in Central Oregon leaving from the Madras Airport. I am a resident here and they are constantly flying over head and disrupting our serene country.

Flying dangerously low over residential areas. I have a pair of Bald Eagles at my house and the planes are constantly flying overhead. This is not good for the eagles and their nesting habits.

Please help save our community!

Judy Hagerty

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Oregon Aviation Watch is interested in hearing from readers who have experienced the loss of enjoyment of their property, a decrease in livability, negative health impacts, or other difficulties related to aviation activity in their communities.