Bergen County residents are complaining about the low, loud noise of aircraft landing at Teterboro Airport. The alternate route approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2021 was used less than 0.2% of the time in 2024, and Hackensack and Paramus have introduced resolutions calling for its use to be mandatory. The FAA advised residents to first contact their local aviation community roundtable or the airport operator.
According to a report by PIX11, residents of Bergen County, New Jersey, say the low, loud noise from aircraft landing at Teterboro Airport is significantly affecting their daily lives. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the best way for residents concerned about noise to raise the issue is to contact their local aviation community roundtable or the airport operator.
Jacqueline Gadaleta of Woodcliff Lake said the planes fly so low that she looks up and waves, feeling as though she could see the pilots. Stephanie Huang, who lives in the same town, said she has to stop what she is doing every time a plane passes.
Residents argue that a solution already exists. They say the FAA approved an alternate route in 2021 that runs over Route 21 instead of residential neighborhoods, but it is rarely used. Hackensack Mayor Caseen Gaines said the alternate approach was used less than 0.2% of the time in 2024. Hackensack passed a resolution asking the FAA to make use of the alternate approach mandatory, and Paramus introduced the same resolution.
The FAA explained that once it receives residents' comments, it can work with the airport operator to determine whether air traffic procedures need to change. The Port Authority, which operates the airport, said the FAA has final responsibility for setting flight paths and makes its decisions after weighing various factors, including air traffic volume and operating conditions.