Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell’s office is looking to the community to help deal with the city’s aircraft noise issues, calling on residents with expertise in the area to join his Airport Noise Task Force.

“We are asking for residents with experience both with the FAA, and the commercial aircraft industry, and who are willing to serve on the task force to contact Brian Wilson,” said Steve McNey, the mayor’s spokesman. “He can be reached by phone at 253-835-2402 or email at brian.wilson@cityoffederalway.com.”

The task force is seeking seven to nine such citizens.

Ferrell, in an April 13 email sent to attendees of a November meeting between the Federal Aviation Administration and to residents who have contacted City Hall about the noise, noted the following:

• The SeaTac Sustainable Airport Master Plan includes projections and growth to SeaTac’s operations that will likely produce substantial noise impacts to neighboring communities, including Federal Way, in the future.

• The FAA has acknowledged different procedures between the north and south communities surrounding SeaTac Airport.

• Changes to FAA Instrument Flight Procedures (IFP) to address Federal Way noise and environmental concerns will not be initiated by the FAA. Requests to change flight procedures must be through the task force process, so plans to initiate these changes could come from local community expertise, consultant studies and/or a review through a Metroplex improvement process.

• IFP changes are prioritized to address safety issues and can take three to five years to implement.

“I have directed an Airport Noise Task Force be formed of citizens with expertise in FAA and SeaTac Airport operations to make recommendations on next steps, including the option of a direct submission of IFP recommended changes,” Ferrell wrote.

Federal Way officials have met repeatedly with the FAA to discuss the hundreds of complaints from Federal Way residents regarding increased aircraft noise, but the agency has thus far declined to address the issue.