Neighbors upset over noise as USAFA changes training times

A new plan to reduce noise complaints against the U.S. Air Force Academy was met with mixed feelings Thursday night in Colorado Springs.

The Academy has started powered flights at 6 a.m., an hour earlier than previously scheduled. A commander told homeowners gathered at the Classical Academy that the plan would actually alleviate some of the noise by expanding the available times for training flights.

“They fly too low over the house,” said Sherry Dyer, who hears planes pass over her house daily. “I’m a retired person and I enjoyed the peace and quiet that we did have.”

Those planes in the air are typically T-53 trainers, which in the early morning would not have to compete for air space with gliders or parachutists. Those planes do not perform maneuvers above houses.

But neighbors aren’t convinced.

“There’s a safety risk. It really is disturbing our quality of life,” Dyer said.

Col. Steven C. Burgh, commander of the 306 th Flying Training Group, said they have no evidence that planes are flying below 1,000 feet altitude and there are no incidents reported of planes in neighborhoods. Only one plane landed on Academy grounds.