Colorado Town and County File Lawsuit Against Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport

March 13, 2024

On March 12, 2024, Boulder County announced a lawsuit against Rocky Mountain Municipal Airport (RMMA) and Jefferson County, the owner and operator of the airport, calling for a ban on touch-and-go operations at this facility.

The full text of the press release appears below.


Superior and Boulder County Take Legal Action Against Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and Jefferson County

Lawsuit Calls for Airport to Stop Causing Unreasonable Health and Safety Risks

On March 12, 2024, the Town of Superior (the "Town") and the Board of County Commissioners for Boulder County ("Boulder County") filed a lawsuit in the Boulder County District Court to protect their residents from negative and unreasonable health impacts caused by certain operations at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (the "Airport"). In the complaint, the Town and Boulder County request the Court require Jefferson County, owner and operator of the Airport, to abate the public nuisance stemming from piston-engine aircraft conducting touch-and-go operations at the Airport. The Town and Boulder County are not seeking monetary damages, are not trying to close the Airport, are not trying to limit which aircraft can use the Airport, and are not asking Jefferson County to do anything it is not expressly authorized to do.

Annual operations at the Airport are largely made up of training flights. According to Jefferson County, in 2023, more than 155,000 operations were "local general aviation" flights which Jefferson County "presumed to be almost entirely training operations." These training flights are conducted in piston-engine aircraft—the only type of aircraft still using fuel containing lead—which are primarily owned and operated by the four flight schools located at the Airport. A common operation performed during these training flights is a "touch-and-go." A touch-and-go occurs when an aircraft lands and takes off without coming to a full stop. It is common for a single training flight to include several touch-and-goes. Due to the configuration of the Airport, most of the touch-and-go operations result in piston-engine aircraft flying at full power, low, slow, and loud directly over the Town and Boulder County. The number of touch-and-go operations is especially pronounced in summer months.

In recent years, operations at the Airport have continually increased. For example, in 2019 (pre-COVID), 191,533 operations occurred at the Airport. Just four years later, in 2023, 281,806 operations occurred, an over 47% increase in operations compared to 2019. In 2023, there was more than one operation every two minutes for the entire year (24 hours a day, 365 days a year). But as all residents know, these operations are condensed into the daylight hours of summer, leading to multiple overflights each minute during the busiest summer days. Jefferson County expects operations to continue increasing year-over-year and it is actively trying to expand the Airport's footprint by seeking to build new infrastructure that it estimates would add another approximately 35,000 annual operations. The noise and pollution caused by these operations are felt directly by the Town and Boulder County.

Combining the high and increasing number of training operations occurring at the Airport with the regularity of touch-and-go operations leads to an unreasonable amount of noise and lead-particulate exposure over the Town and Boulder County. During the summer, piston-engine aircraft touch-and-go operations begin before dawn and continue non-stop throughout the day. Noise data shows that a single touch-and-go operation can be more than 1,000 times louder than ambient noise levels (measured on an A-weighted decibel level). Due to the constant impacts of these operations, residents cannot open their windows, cannot use outdoor spaces, and cannot sleep without interruption. By filing this lawsuit, the Town and Boulder County are demanding that Jefferson County abate this nuisance and stop exposing the Town and Boulder County's residents to unreasonable health and safety hazards associated with piston-engine aircraft touch-and-go operations.

Mayor Mark Lacis commented that the Town could not wait any longer to act: "For years, we have asked Superior residents to be patient while we worked with Jefferson County to address the noise and lead pollution coming from RMMA. But now we know that Jefferson County did not take this issue seriously and went so far as to mock our residents' legitimate concerns. Our residents have had enough. Jefferson County knows there is a problem and they could solve it immediately by eliminating touch-and-go operations by piston-engine aircraft. If Jefferson County won't abate this nuisance voluntarily, we'll have the Courts require it."

Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann commented: "We have not made this decision lightly, but after a lack of action from RMMA and its owner Jefferson County, we are moving forward with a lawsuit. We have spent countless hours trying to work through solutions with Jefferson County and the airport, but we aren't seeing progress and our residents are still suffering from the negative impact of aviation fuel and piston-engine aircraft. We are hopeful that today's action brings about much-needed change that improves the quality of life for our community."

As the Town and Boulder County have explained to Jefferson County in the past, Jefferson County has the ability to be a good neighbor and reduce the unreasonable injury it is causing. Rather than work with the Town and Boulder County to address this important issue, Jefferson County has continued to grow operations at the Airport. The Town and Boulder County have exhausted all the informal options available and are thus forced to seek formal intervention from the courts. The Town and Boulder County remain willing to work with Jefferson County to collaboratively resolve this issue and are optimistic that protracted litigation can be avoided.


To access a 3/12/2024 Colorado Public Radio Report on this action, see Boulder County is Suing Jefferson County Over Noise and Lead Falling on Its Land — and Residents — from the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

To access an article on the former RMMA airport manager who left his position abruptly in December of 2023, see County Investigated Claims Former Airport Manager Belittled and Called Nearby Residents 'Nut Jobs'.

Health and Pollution Impacts of Aviation

March 9, 2024

"The easiest and most efficient solution to reduce air pollution is to reduce the number of flights and airports."

Aviation Is a Health Issue from Stay Grounded and the European Union Against Aircraft Nuisance (UECNA), offers a number of recommendations for reducing toxic emissions generated by commercial airports and private jets. Though not directly addressed in the report, many of the identified health and pollution concerns also apply to toxic general aviation airports.

Key points from the report:


The World Health Organization recommends a limit of 45 decibels (dB) for daytime and 40 dB at night. Currently, the European Union only considers aircraft noise from an average of 55 dB or above in its legislation, "a level linked to significantly higher risk levels for different cardiovascular diseases and lower reading performance in children." (Pg. 3)

The following paragraph did not appear in the report. It is included here to provide perspective on decibel levels in the U.S. which has set a 65 DNL. During a December 2022 presentation by Dr. Daniel Fink at a meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, the author pointed out the discrepancy between FAA and EPA noise recommendations, "The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 65 A-weighted decibel (dBA) day-night average sound level (DNL) is not a safe noise exposure level for the American public...The Environmental Protection Agency, however, calculated that the safe noise levels for the public are DNL =<55dB to prevent outdoor activity interference and annoyance and =<45 dB to prevent indoor activity interference and annoyance...The associations between aviation noise exposure and its adverse health effects are well documented...For population health and safety, aviation noise must be reduced." In addition to chairing the Quiet Coalition, Daniel Fink MD "serves as an Expert Consultant to the World Health Organization on its Make Listening Safe Program, and as a subject matter expert on noise and the public for the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health."

"Air traffic noise is associated with a variety of serious health problems: The most critical include cardiovascular diseases (e.g. ischaemic heart disease), cognitive impairment (especially in children), mental health issues (e.g. depression), sleep disturbance and its associated health effects, diabetes and stress-related diseases like hypertension. In airport workers and nearby residents, noise can cause damage to or loss of hearing. Several European studies with large sample sizes confirmed correlations not only between aircraft noise and serious illnesses, but also increased hospital admissions and mortality. One study estimates that night-time aircraft noise near Frankfurt airport leads to 2,340 hospitalizations and 340 deaths per year." (Pg. 3)

"Aircraft emissions are a major source of local air pollution in and around airports and contribute significantly to background concentrations of ozone and particulate matter (PM). According to the latest estimate, ozone and PM alone cause 74,300 premature deaths globally per year - and these don’t even include all aircraft emissions." (Pg. 4)

A 2021 study concluded that "exposure to aircraft emissions induce pulmonary and systemic inflammation, which potentially contributes to cancer, asthma, respiratory and coronary heart disease" and worsens existing diseases. (Pg. 5)

"Long-term exposure to PM has negative effects on pregnancy and unborn children and is linked to lung cancer and decreased fertility. For example, a study of residents near Seattle SeaTac airport found a greater percentage of infants born prematurely or with low birth weight, higher hospitalization rates, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, stroke, COPD, higher death rates from all causes and lower life expectancy." (Pg. 5)

"Children, elderly people and those with existing conditions are the most vulnerable to the effects of noise and air pollution." (Pg. 6)

"Aircraft noise, emissions and the related health issues fall disproportionately on low-income communities and airport workers, often including a significant number of people of color and marginalized populations." (Pg. 6)


Some Solutions Put Forth for Alleviating Aviation Noise

  • Obligatory noise monitoring around all airports.
  • Transparent and publicly available noise mapping.
  • Reducing noise levels to WHO recommendations - 45DB during the day and 40DB at night.
  • Establishing nighttime flight bans at all airports.
  • Improved operational practices.
  • Reducing the number of flights. "Banning night flights, heavy long-haul flights, ultrasonic flights and non-essential short-haul and private jet flights are good ways to start."

See pg. 7 for additional details.

Some Solutions Put Forth for Alleviating Aviation Pollution

  • Establishing stricter, enforceable rules on pollution and particulate matter. "Aircraft regulations need to address the full range of emissions..."
  • Making technical improvements including the reduction of aromatics and other additives in jet fuel.
  • REDUCING AIR TRAFFIC! "We may wait a quarter century – or longer – for technological step-changes to come to fruition. Meanwhile, people will continue to suffer from pollution every day. Moreover, growth in the aviation industry will ultimately counter attempts to reduce pollution. The easiest and most efficient solution to reduce air pollution is to reduce the number of flights and airports."

See page 8 for additional details.

To read the entire report click here.

California Airports Transition to Unleaded Aviation Fuel

February 22, 2024
Updated February 29, 2024

Below are the opening paragraphs of an AVweb article by Russ Niles.


California FBOs Told to Start Selling G100UL When It's 'Commercially Available' (Updated)

By Russ Niles - Published: February 17, 2024, Updated: February 22, 2024

Lawyers for a California environmental group say most if not all FBOs in California will be required to offer 100LL with General Aviation Modifications Inc.'s (GAMI's) G100UL starting in the first half of 2024 thanks to a nine-year-old court ruling. The consent judgment, issued in favor of the Center for Environmental Health in December of 2014 by the California Superior Court in Alameda, says that as soon as there's an approved commercially available replacement for 100LL, FBOs have to sell [it]. CEH's lawyers say they will be allowed to continue to sell 100LL but will also have to stock unleaded fuel. GAMI disagrees with that interpretation and says the FBOs will be compelled to sell only its fuel or another fuel that has no lead in it. CEH's lawyers have sent notice to all California FBOs to stock G100UL as soon as it becomes commercially available to them. If they don't, they could be found in contempt and face heavy fines.

GAMI head of engineering George Braly said Vitol Aviation, the producer/refiner now licensed to produce G100UL, is scheduled to produce large batches of the fuel later in the spring. Braly said it will "take a few months" to ramp up production and to supply all of the dozens of fuel sellers covered by the order, after which it will be able to maintain a steady supply to them.

To access the full article click here.

AVweb followed up with an article explaining that California's action does not completely ban leaded aviation fuel. Below is an excerpt.


Environmental Group Says California Airports Will Be Able to Continue Selling 100LL

By Russ Niles - Published: February 17, 2024, Updated: February 19, 2024

The lawyer for a California environmental group says a court settlement that will mandate the sale of G100UL avgas will not necessarily prevent FBOs from also selling 100LL. Mark Todzo, who represents the Center for Environmental Health, clarified part of his December 2023 letter to FBOs and fuel distributors informing of the imminent commercial availability of G100UL. In that letter Todzo said G100UL "can and should serve as a lower lead replacement for the 100LL fuel you are presently distributing" but told AVweb the agreement does not expressly stop fuel businesses from selling 100LL also. "They just need to make [G100UL] available for sale."

To access the full article click here.

For another article on a related topic by Russ Niles of AVweb, see Avgas Issue Comes to a Head and It's About Time (2/19/2024).

Colorado Legislators Introduce Bill to Reduce Aviation Lead Pollution and Noise

February 19, 2024

"We might be one of the first states to actually take this on as a statewide issue and say we acknowledge that lead from aviation fuel is harmful...Nobody's trying to shut down the airports and nobody's trying to take away anybody's freedom to fly. I just think we're asking for some very basic and reasonable accommodations, and that their freedom to fly doesn't create lifelong learning disabilities for kids who are under that flight path."
–Bri Lehman, Save Our Skies Alliance

On 2/12/2024 Colorado State Legislators introduced HB24-1235, Reduce Aviation Impacts on Communities.

The excerpts below are from a 2/13/2024 article by Scott Franz from from KUNC's Colorado Center for Investigative Reporting, Coloradans Are on Edge about Airport Noise and Pollution. Lawmakers want to Help.


State lawmakers have introduced a bill aiming to protect residents from noise and potential lead exposure at Colorado's growing general aviation airports.

Rapid growth at several airports, including Rocky Mountain Metropolitan in northern Colorado, has sparked lawsuits, thousands of noise complaints and health concerns about airborne lead pollution in neighboring communities.

"The science is clear: Exposure to lead can cause irreversible and lifelong health effects in children," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement in October. "Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant source of lead emissions in our air."

Colorado lawmakers are hoping their bill will expedite a transition to unleaded fuel around the state by offering tax credits and financial incentives to pilots and airports making the switch.

The bill would start charging an impact fee of up to 50 cents per gallon on leaded fuel sales beginning in September. Airports could then use that money to pay for fuel tanks and other infrastructure needed to offer an unleaded alternative.

Some airports, including Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, have already announced plans to transition away from leaded fuel before the federal goal to do so by 2030.

Colorado's bill would also require the state health department to install noise monitors at some airports and periodically do blood tests for lead for residents and children living near the runways.

Finally, the bill would aim to eventually stop the state from directing grant funds toward busy regional airports that have not put in place voluntary noise reduction measures and plans to switch to unleaded fuel.

To read the full article click here.

Another key provision of the bill gives impacted communities a place at the table:

"...increases the Colorado aeronautical board (board) from 7 to 9 voting members by requiring the appointment of 2 members who are residents of communities that are affected by general aviation airport traffic or traffic at a commercial airport at which there is significant general aviation activity and makes the executive director of the department of public health and environment (CDPHE), or the executive director's designee, an ex officio nonvoting member of the board."

See Colorado General Assembly bill summary for details.

California Bill Proposes Statewide Ban on Leaded Aviation Fuel

February 16, 2024

The continued use of leaded aviation fuel is not just an environmental issue—it's a direct attack on the health and well-being of local working families living close to the airports...My heart aches knowing that every day our children are exposed to this danger.
–Crystal Reyes from the Shut Down the Whiteman Airport Coalition

On Thursday 2/15/2024 California State Senator Caroline Menjivar held a press conference to announce legislation calling for a statewide ban on leaded aviation fuel. A prominent theme raised by the Senator and the diverse group of speakers at the event was the disproportionate negative impact airports like Van Nuys and Whiteman have on communities of color.

To access a link to this 26 minute video click here.

The excerpts below are from the text of the bill.


SB 1193 would prohibit an airport operator or aviation retail establishment, as defined, from selling, distributing, or otherwise making available leaded aviation gasoline to consumers, consistent with a specified timeline...

This bill would require the [Transportation] department, in consultation with the State Department of Public Health and the California Environmental Protection Agency, to identify best management practices for reducing public health and environmental exposures to lead associated with airport operations. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2025, to publish on its internet website initial guidance for airport operators regarding best airport operating practices to minimize environmental and public health impacts of lead exposure.

This bill would require each airport operator, on or before November 1, 2025, to submit to the department, and begin implementing, a plan to implement the best practices identified by the department to minimize environmental impacts and public health risks associated with leaded aviation gasoline use at airports.

This bill would provide that a person in violation of the prohibition on selling, distributing, or otherwise making available leaded aviation gasoline to consumers is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day that leaded aviation gasoline was sold, distributed, or supplied.

Section 21710 provides a time-line for the prohibition of leaded fuel at California airports.

21710. (a) An airport operator or aviation retail establishment shall not sell, distribute, or otherwise make available leaded aviation gasoline to consumers consistent with the following timeline:

(1) Beginning January 1, 2026, for airports and aviation retail establishments located in or adjacent to either of the following:

(A) A disadvantaged community, as identified pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.

(B) A city with a population of at least 700,000 as of January 1, 2024, as determined using the latest official estimate published by the Department of Finance.

(2) Beginning January 1, 2028, for airports and aviation retail establishments located in or immediately adjacent to an urban growth boundary.

(3) Beginning January 1, 2030, for all other airports and aviation retail establishments.

(b) For purposes of this section, "aviation retail establishment" means any public or private entity that sells aviation gasoline, or offers or otherwise makes available aviation gasoline to a customer, including other businesses or government entities, for use in this state.

To access the full text of the bill click here.


GAMI Fuel Will Soon be Available in California

According to a 2/12/2024 AVweb article by Russ Niles, GAMI G100UL Eyed to Go on Sale in California By Summer.

"Aircraft operators in California will likely be the first to be able to fill their tanks with unleaded 100 octane aviation fuel. General Aviation Modifications Inc. head of engineering George Braly told AVweb the company has signed a licensing agreement with petroleum company Vitol Aviation and that company is now in the process of producing the first large-scale batches of G100UL® avgas. At this time, the expectation is that G100UL avgas will be available to the West Coast in the first half of this year. "The initial deployment will be in California," said Braly."

To read the entire article click here.

A 3/30/2023 YouTube presentation, Safely Using Unleaded Avgas - G100UL, by George Braly, an aeronautical engineer who co-founded General Aviation Modifications, Inc (GAMI), discussed the distribution and deployment of GAMI fuel in California. The section on the initial roll-out of the fuel on the West Coast begins around the 32:12 minute mark of the video.

Port of Portland Announces Series of Roundtables on Transition to Unleaded Aviation Fuel

February 13, 2024

The following message from the Port of Portland announces the establishment of a Roundtable on the transition to unleaded aviation fuel at the Hillsboro Airport.


AvGas Roundtable Session Information and Registration (2/28/2024)

The Port of Portland is committed to responsible environmental leadership and creating benefits for the environment and our community. Our work around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Shared Prosperity has highlighted the importance of environmental justice and helps us prioritize initiatives to address local public health inequities and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Port has long been engaged in and advocating for the transition away from the use of leaded fuels (AvGas) in general aviation and we recognize that we have a role to play when it comes to statewide strategy. Unleaded aviation fuels are newer products and there are barriers to overcome regarding production, distribution, cost and aircraft certification before the fuel can be widely adopted. Nonetheless, the Port is committed to working through these issues in partnership with the community and other stakeholders.

All interested community members are invited to engage in a roundtable series that will run throughout 2024. We are especially interested in hearing from community members that live, work, play and/or pray near the Hillsboro airport, aviation professionals, public health professionals, environmental and air quality advocates and/or people with lived experience navigating the health impacts of leaded aviation fuel.

The primary goals for this roundtable series are to:

    • Facilitate open and informed discussions about the challenges, opportunities, and implications associated with the use of leaded fuel in general aviation aircraft and its impact on our communities and vulnerable populations including BIPOC, youth, elders, people living with disabilities and low-income communities.
    • Serve as a platform to educate participants on the complexities of leaded-fuel usage in general aviation aircraft, as well as the available alternatives and their feasibility.
    • Strive to identify feasible strategies, policies, and collaborations that can contribute to the phase-out of leaded aviation fuel and promote cleaner alternatives in aviation statewide.

These discussions will go beyond the challenges and threats of continued use of leaded aviation fuel and focus on partnering to drive actionable change across the state.

The Port of Portland recognizes that attending public meetings may come with challenges or barriers to participation including transportation, childcare needs and/or accessibility. If you would like to request language or disability accommodations to allow for your participation, please let us know. Translated materials and interpretation is available upon request. Stipends to support costs associated with childcare and/or transportation may also be available. Please note that the Brookwood Library Community Room is wheelchair accessible.

The first roundtable "Unleaded AvGas Discovery Session" will be held on February 28th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at the Brookwood Library Community Room located at 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy, Hillsboro, OR 97124. If you would like to attend, provide feedback, stay informed, or if you cannot attend, register via the following link by February 21st, 2024 - https://forms.office.com/g/xYHXcCM2cb. Please register early as the room has an 84-seat maximum capacity. If you have any additional questions or concerns please email us at unleadedavgas@portofportland.com.

Lisa Taylor she/her/hers
Senior Administrative Coordinator
Environmental
portofportland.com

Conscious Deception Reveals a Lack of Moral Conscience

February 3, 2024

"The FAA, a captured federal agency, has eviscerated our communities, laid waste to our quality of life and exposed people to unhealthy levels of noise and air emissions The more we play into their conscious deceptions the more we are the victims of an agency that has no moral conscience. We must combat the dark web of real lies by shining the light of truth."

 

The following article was written by Elaine Miller. She is the co-founder of Plane Sense 4 Long Island which represents the heavily impacted communities whose residents are harmed by noise and pollution from JFK and LaGuardia.

CONSCIOUS DECEPTION REVEALS A LACK OF MORAL CONSCIENCE

by Elaine Miller

"Deception refers to the act—big or small, cruel or kind—of encouraging people to believe information that is not true. Lying is a common form of deception—stating something known to be untrue with the intent to deceive."
- Psychology Today

Most of us are guilty of telling white lies, those falsehoods we tell our friends, family, coworkers, in order to maintain social manners and courtesies. These white lies are often considered harmless because small or inconsequential matters oftentimes will not lead to a real threat to our overall well-being. It is the degree and intent of the lie that separates the white lie from the real lies. Real lies are destructive and researchers have found them to have malicious intent. Real lies benefit the liar whereas white lies are viewed to be protective. Societies do not condone lying as part of the moral constructs of ethical behavior since it leads to the destruction of a moral conscience. This is a universally accepted principle which dictates the value of right versus wrong; which leads us to the intrinsic values of the FAA and the lack thereof.

The FAA has a playbook by which they do not deviate. This includes the deliberate decisions to consciously deceive the public into believing that their practices are doing no harm to the environment and people are safe from any hazardous noise and air emissions. Their methodology is to lock the public out of any meaningful engagement and when presented with evidence based research, deny, deny, deny the results or just not accept studies because they were not conducted within the agency itself. Either way, it fits into their design.

The manipulation of data is another strategy used to deceive the public into believing the repetitive high decibel noise emitted from low flying aircraft has no significant impact and that a 65DNL is an accurate measurement; keep hammering that message! We are led to believe that the evidence we see and hear is just a figment of our imaginations which does not fit into their tactic.

So, let us pretend that this barrage of overflights is not really happening and convince the impacted communities they have always lived under these conditions by showing slides of how the flight paths have not changed.

Let us use the same runway for days on end with no relief and say it all depends on the weather and use runway closures as a backup plan for the unrelenting bombardment of overflights; formulating solutions to end this abuse, we will claim that it cannot be done, or better yet, it will take years.

The continued use of leaded fuel in private planes can be delayed for several more years even though we know lead is a killer. The latest statement released by the FAA regarding the expansion of runways for general aviation airports protested by the residents claiming that the increased number of aircraft will have a significant impact on wildlife, so let us take a page out of our playbook and make a blanket statement that "there will be no significant impact on wildlife." A ploy that works every time.

The FAA, a captured federal agency, has eviscerated our communities, laid waste to our quality of life and exposed people to unhealthy levels of noise and air emissions The more we play into their conscious deceptions the more we are the victims of an agency that has no moral conscience. We must combat the dark web of real lies by shining the light of truth.

"Stand up for what is right even if you stand alone. Stand up for truth, regardless of who steps on it." ― Suzy Kassem

Elaine Miller and Plane Sense 4 Long Island work with federal, state and local officials to reduce the severe impact of noise and air pollution from aviation which residents are subjected to on a daily basis. Plane Sense 4 Long Island worked with state representatives to pass a law directing the Department of Environmental Conservation with the assistance of other departments, to conduct a study of the health impacts of JFK and LGA.


Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Hearing 2/06/2024 on the State of American Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration

On 2/6/2024, the Congressional Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) will hold a hearing on the State of American Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration beginning at 10:00 AM ET, 7:00 AM PT. To listen click here.

FAA Administrator, Michael Whitaker is scheduled to testify on the 1/5/2024 "rapid depressurization accident involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft" when a door panel blew out shortly after an Alaskan airline passenger flight took-off from the Portland International Airport (PDX). Fortunately no one died but a number of people were traumatized and injured.

A letter sent to Administrator Whitaker by the Aviation Subcommittee and the Committee on T&I poses questions they would like him to address.

See 1/12/2024 Washington Post article, Alaska Airlines Passengers Sue Boeing Over 737 Max 9 Blowout Incident, about a lawsuit filed by some of the passengers on board the flight.

A growing number of people are joining the lawsuit. As stated in a 1/27/2024 97.3 FM KIRO report,

"Four passengers filed a lawsuit against the two companies last week, claiming the depressurization that ripped open the fuselage midair left them with serious mental and emotional trauma. Now, attorney Mark Lindquist told KIRO Newsradio his office is representing 18 passengers from the ill-fated flight, and he intends to add them to the Jan. 16 complaint."

A 1/12/2024 Guardian article, 'Loose Bolts in a Young Aircraft': What Went Wrong at Boeing - and Can It Be Fixed? is available here.

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