by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers

Northeast Burnsville may get some relief from airport noise.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is planning a 60-day trial in which aircraft departing the new east-west runway will make increased use of a heading over the unpopulated Minnesota River valley, said Burnsville Deputy City Manager Tom Hansen.

The FAA will unveil its plan at the Jan. 17 meeting of the Metropolitan Airports Commission Noise Oversight Committee, Hansen told the City Council at a Jan. 9 work session.

The FAA will try to maximize use of a departure heading close to the 230 degrees that was suggested in planning documents for the runway, which opened in October 2005, Hansen said.

Burnsville has complained bitterly that the FAA is largely ignoring the heading in favor of a 190-degree heading, causing far more flights over northeast Burnsville than residents were told to expect.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) agrees that the FAA hasn't stuck to the original plan, said Mayor Elizabeth Kautz.

The Noise Oversight Committee meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. at MAC offices at 6040 28th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Relief from airport noise is part of the city's state legislative agenda for 2007. The council met with Burnsville-area legislators Jan. 9.

John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.