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I first discovered Surf Air by an accidental Google search last summer. I was surprised when I started researching this small regional airline, as I had never heard about them before in the numerous blogs and aviation rags I enjoy reading.
Some of my previous posts included:
Touring Surf Air in Sacramento
This is a new little airline that is frequently referred to the “Netflix” of passenger aviation. Their business model is an all you can fly for a flat fee of $1,950.00 per month. Not everything is smooth with the new startup, especially with their Northern California hub in San Carlos. As the number of flights has increased, so has the noise coming from the airline’s fleet of single-engine turboprop Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. The local residents have been filling noise complaints with San Mateo County, which has jurisdiction over the San Carlos Airport. This NBC report sums it up:
NBC Article about Surf Air and San Carlos noise
Surf Air and the county devised a plan to redirect flight paths and traffic in other area’s away from effected neighborhoods. They are mostly trying to redirect flights over the bay and away from the local population.
AINonline article about efforts to reduce Surf Air noise
Their efforts have been less than effective. Finally, on August 18th, 2016 San Mateo County held a public meeting on the matter in Atherton, California – one of the local communities effected by the increased Surf Air flights. It was 185 people and standing room only. After reading this article by The Almanac the meeting sounds like a witch hunt, and an absolute disaster for Surf Air. It probably didn’t help that Jeff Potter, the CEO of Surf Air, ducked out of the meeting early.
Packed public meeting – courtesy of The Almanac
A second meeting was held on September 14th, as a continuation of the first. The Almanac again covered the meeting and posted this online article.
Again, like the first meeting this second one sounded ugly. I have attended these type of public meetings, in other area’s and about different subjects, and they’re typically never good. Usually they include a lot of emotion – reason and common sense are checked at the door. It doesn’t seem that there is an immediate solution to alleviate the noise from Surf Air. San Mateo County is conducting a noise study, and has not publicized the results yet.
Jim Sullivan, Surf Air’s senior vice president of operations, also mentioned that Sur Air had reduce the number flights operating out of San Carlos from 24 to 18 per day. He stated this reduction was done for “business reasons”. This may be entirely true as it can be a good business practice not upset your neighbors, and eventually be banned from the airport. In any case, the timing is fortuitous for those looking for relieve from the noise.
In reading about this issue I really can see the argument from both sides. Surf Air is a private company following the rules and trying to change and improve the passenger aviation business, while also trying to make a profit. On the other the San Carlos Airport probably never had this kind of air traffic or noise in the past, and now that has changed and it’s bound to upset the local residence.
