FAiR Solutions: Neighborhood-based air traffic plan Mandatory "Fly Quiet" Noise monitoring and abatement Environmental Impact Statement Use all runways

January 29, 2015 The Honorable Bill Shuster U.S. House of Representatives 2268 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Peter DeFazio U.S. House of Representatives 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Shuster and Representative DeFazio: The Fair Allocation in Runways (FAiR) Coalition represents both city and suburban residents of Chicago who have been negatively impacted by changes in flight patterns and runway use at both O’Hare International and Midway Airports. We understand that hearings will be held this year on the FAA reauthorization legislation. This legislation will have a direct and significant impact on the health, quality of life, and property values of our members. FAiR joins with Queens Quiet Skies and other organizations in our belief that the Committee should hear directly from communities that already are or will be affected by aviation legislation. We feel that the testimony of the single appointee by the NextGen Advisory Committee is not adequate to truly represent the impact that FAA decisions have had on the hundreds of thousands of residents surrounding major airports. We strongly feel that communities should be represented by members who live daily with the effects of those decisions. FAiR asks that the Committee invite comments from groups who represent communities directly impacted by aviation procedures. We ask you to incorporate that information into the public record and make it part of the dialogue about the future of aviation in the United States. The increasing numbers of communities upset at the FAA’s unilateral changes in flight patterns and the resulting disruption to people’s lives leads us to conclude that community concerns have not been given adequate weight in the past. We hope you will change that. FAiR appreciates the value of a functional and efficient national aviation system, and believes that improvements are welcome and needed; however, improvements must not come at the sacrifice of the health, safety, and quality of life of citizens living underneath flight paths and around the airports. We hope to have the opportunity to speak to you directly. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely,

Jac Charlier, FAiR Co-Founder FAiR is a coalition of community organizations dedicated to the equitable distribution of O’Hare aircraft traffic. FAiR gathers democratically as a citizen led initiative to build community. Contact: Jac Charlier • (773) 266-1420 • [email protected]