Well, Federal Way residents, welcome to the “real world of the Port of Seattle and Sea-Tac airport.” We moved away from Boulevard Park about 14 years ago to get rid of the constant flights over our home, and moved to Federal Way, as far away from Sea-Tac as we could.

But did it do us any good? Well maybe for the first eight years. But then, little by little, we noticed the number of flights out of Sea-Tac were always to the south, but never to the north. Have you wondered why? Those of us in Boulevard Park fought with everything we had to stop the third runway. Fat chance that was going to happen, as the dye had already been set. They took away many family friendly areas and closed many Highline School District schools because of the noise. Many houses were taken out, more than 500 homes, and people had to find other homes where they could have peace and quiet — yeah right.

They were paid a pittance what their homes were worth by the Port of Seattle. We had the port windows put in, but they were of little help if you want to plan anything out of the house in your yard. This is their answer to your problems — insulate.

These are only a small number of things we went through, only to have it happening all over again, and our elected officials, here in the State of Washington as well as in Washington, D.C., did nothing to help us overcome that we had to put up with.

Now here we are, in our retirement home, and here are the aircraft flying overhead, here at Marine View/Demarwood, more so since the third runway was built. If you think the Port of Seattle and the commissioners with their big bucks are going to listen, think again. The flights taking off from Sea-Tac don’t even make it as far as 320th Street because they turn right over our house, more often than not, even if they are heading north to Alaska and other places they will need to go north.

I have sent letters and emails, and even called the Port of Seattle noise abatement line, but get the same “oral diatribe.” So don’t expect any help from the port because they will offer you insulation for your homes, even if it is ineffective.

Also, the FAA is in bed with the port, and they both agree they only have to fly five nautical miles to the south, out of Sea-Tac, for safety. Well that five nautical miles, as it turns out, is right over our house, overlooking Puget Sound. Since the third runway was opened, it is used about 90 percent of the time, I would venture to guess. They deny this, but I can watch the airplanes taking off from the third runway.

Pat Gee, Federal Way