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YVR plan has huge increase in planes over Tsawwassen

A new master plan for Vancouver International Airport will result in a lot more unwanted aircraft noise for Delta residents.

A new master plan for Vancouver International Airport will result in a lot more unwanted aircraft noise for Delta residents. That's the concern included in a municipal staff report about the YVR plan, which outlines how the airport would meet the needs of its stakeholders through to 2037. Of particular concern is the plan for increased aircraft movements over Delta.

As far as current peak day aircraft movements, in 2015 the sky over North Delta had 97 while Tsawwassen had 58. By 2037, that's projected to increase to 247 over North Delta, up 154 per cent, and 312 over Tsawwassen, a 438 per cent jump.

In 2016, YVR had 280,124 runway movements and 22 million passengers, annual figures that are projected to reach 327,730 runway movements and 35 million passengers by 2037.

The report to Delta council notes the airport has confirmed this increase in air traffic is associated with anticipated arrivals originating from destinations to the south and east.

"Staff is concerned because Delta residents are already exposed to a significant number of daily aircraft movements because of their proximity to the approach at YVR. This forecasted increase will have a tremendous impact on the community, regardless of the height of the aircraft," the report notes.

Mayor Lois Jackson will send a letter to Craig Richmond, president and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority, outlining Delta's concerns.

A decade ago, NAV Canada, the privately run, non-profit organization that operates Canada's civil air navigation service, allowed flight path changes that saw planes fly low over the southern edge of North Delta and Tsawwassen without public consultation, prompting hundreds of complaints to pour in. A number of adjustments were subsequently made and noise monitoring measures undertaken.