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FAA proposes flight path changes for Orlando International Airport

ORLANDO, Fla. — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has proposed changes to the flight paths into Orlando International Airport, that could affect homeowners around the facility.

Homeowner Kumar Hobaichan lives in a neighborhood just north of the airport and deals with the noise from low-flying planes every day.

He’s gotten used to the noise over time.

“I mean, first, when I moved here, I thought it would have been a problem, because it’s so loud,” he said.

But now, with the FAA proposal, the number of planes flying over his home could increase, and that was a concerning thought for Hobaichan.

The changes in approach paths into OIA are designed to create more space in the skies and allow more planes to fly safely over Central Florida, the FAA said.

According to an FAA promotional video, the plan would make things better for residents.

“This burns a fraction of the fuel and dramatically reduces aircraft exhaust emissions and noise,” the video said.

Longwood resident Susan Baum moved to her neighborhood after getting married to get away from airplane noise at her husband's old house by OIA.

She lives 20 miles from the airport but still deals with the noise, specifically a 5:41 a.m. daily scheduled landing that has a plane flying directly over her home.

"I mean, it's like right there," Baum said. "My issue is that they have become a nuisance because they're flying too low and making too much noise. And that's why I've been in contact with OIA's noise abatement department."

The FAA said precision approaches, like the one over Baum's home, are part of the NextGen air traffic system already in place.

The proposed changes would add more planes to precision approaches over Orlando and landings will happen more often, the FAA said.

The final revamped flight path has not been set, but similar changes at other large airports have caused backlash and resulted in a second rerouting to address residents’ complaints.

Airport officials said OIA does not have any control over how, or when, flight plan changes get made.

The FAA said public meetings would be held before any of the changes were put in place.

Hobaichan worries that, despite the FAA’s claim that changes would mean less noise for residents, he will have to deal with an increase in noise.

“It would be a little bit crazy,” he said.