Pollution tests clear Destin Airport (w/full report)

Air quality tests at Destin Airport haven’t found much pollution, but they have made life easier for the airport’s neighbors, homeowner Bill Wittke says.

“Believe it or not you did have an effect on the airport,” Wittke told the Destin City Council Monday. “It caused a re-evaluation of the runway and takeoff patterns: The planes changed the way they took off, which made a major difference ...” It probably decreased pollution levels too, he said.

Wittke and other homeowners say air pollution is one of many problems the airport causes them, along with engine noise, night landings, takeoffs and pilots buzzing their homes.

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To read the full air quality study, click here.

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Last year, the city hired Tetra Tech to make air quality tests around the airport during April, which found that lead from jet fuel and airborne dust are well below federal safety levels. Developer Jay Odom paid $25,000 for the tests as part of the approval process for his Destin Jet terminal, and the city added $6,800 to the pot.

Homeowners objected that if the tests had been made on the July 4 weekend when Destin Airport was at its busiest, it would have shown serious pollution problems. The council authorized spending $48,000 for more tests, which took place July 4 to 6 of this year — though Tetra Tech found the airport traffic was actually lower than during the first round of testing.

The tests found, again, that Destin Airport did pollute the area around it, but at levels well within federal safety guidelines. City officials have said that this is only a “snapshot” of air quality, but that a more detailed review would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Air quality is good,” City Manager Greg Kisela told The Log. “So we’re done. Folks that live there still may not be satisfied, but that’s just the nature of it.”

A number of residents have told the council that they know there’s a pollution problem and that the tests, if done properly, would confirm that. When the council heard Tetra Tech’s report Monday, however, no one from the audience spoke up to question the results.

Wittke said the testing had helped the homeowners. Kelvin Espada of Miracle Strip Aviation had persuaded pilots to position their planes so that the sound and jet fumes at takeoff were directed away from people’s homes.

“He really did change it,” Wittke said.