By George P. Hassett

 
Three times as many planes are flying over Somerville in 2007 compared to last year and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials are ignoring noise complaints from city residents and their congressman.

U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano, D-Somerville, said when he tried to meet with FAA officials about the complaints he received from constituents they “stiff-armed” him and refused to acknowledge his concerns.

“I’m less than happy with the FAA. Under the Bush administration [the FAA] is being run by people who think they are above reproach. They know I’m no friend of the Bush administration so they think they can stiff arm me and everyone in Somerville,” he said. “It is one thing not to get what you want, that I can understand, but it is another thing to be disrespected and ignored.”

The FAA declined a request this month from the Board of Aldermen to appear before the board and address concerns about the skyrocketing use of runway 33L at Logan Airport and the resulting increase in planes flying over Somerville. According to Wig Zamore, who represents Somerville on the Logan Airport Citizens Advisory Committee, the number of planes flying over the city has tripled this year.

Massachusetts Port Authority officials have said the increase is due to unusually strong Northwestern winds but Alderman-at-Large William A. White said that is not the only reason.

“The FAA made their own decision to use runway 33L more often,” he said.

City residents, particularly people living on hills, have complained for months of increased planes and noise in the sky above their homes. The city’s 311 line has also been flooded with complaints of planes flying lower and earlier in the morning.

On Sept. 23, a 311 caller reported 17 planes flying over their home in less than two hours. On Oct. 13, one caller estimated 30 to 40 planes flew overhead between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Another caller was more direct to 311: “Help! The plane noise is driving me absolutely crazy,” they said.

Dwight Lancaster, of Winter Hill, said he is considering moving from his home after 20 years of living in Somerville because of the increase.

“The quiet times I had in my home are now interrupted by these planes. It’s an incredible difference compared to the past. Sometimes when one plane is gone, I can see the next one coming,” he said.

Capuano asked people with complaints to call the FAA directly and Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has asked residents to call the city‚Äôs 311 line. However, Zamore said the only agency that will record the complaints and compile them is the Logan Airport noise complaint line at  617-561-3333.

In a letter to the FAA this month Zamore said the federal agency skipped the required public environmental review process. Now after hearing of the agency’s response to aldermen, Capuano and city residents, Zamore said a new approach may be taken to get the FAA to listen.

‚ÄúEventually I think someone is going to take them to court,‚Äù he said.