ILM responds again as community concerns continue over military activity

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington International Airport is once again responding to community concerns about military activity and noise levels.

ILM says military jets use the approach to the airport as training for approaching civilian fields as they would when they are on deployment.

“As stated in the deed, aircraft owned by the Government, or operated by any of its employees or agents on Government business, shall at all times have the right to use the airport in common with others,” ILM wrote in a statement.

The military may also choose to refuel on airport grounds.

Military aircraft are exempt from FAA noise and height regulations.

Some neighbors say the noise has gotten worse over the past couple of months. Tracy Sloop lives in North 11th Street in Wilmington, two miles from the airport, and says she never experienced so many jet flyovers until recently.

“It’s so loud that if you are talking, having a conversation, you have to stop. You absolutely cannot hear what the other person is saying and sometimes it’s so loud it actually hurts your ears,” Sloop said.

Sloop believes it’s related to a new contract with one of the airport’s tenants, Modern Aviation, that allows them to do hot refueling with military aircrafts.

“Since they were awarded that contract the jets can come in, they don’t have to turn their engines off and they can refuel and be out of there in 15 minutes, what used to take an hour or two,” she said.

Sloop says some of her neighbors are considering taking legal action.

Each military base has a dedicated office where the public may contact them with any concerns regarding noise, vibration, low-flying aircraft, etc. You can find that information below. The public may reach out to ILM’s public safety office at (910) 341-4336 to confirm which military base(s) is utilizing ILM.

• Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Area Noise Abatement Hotline: (252) 466-1092
• Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Community Hotline: (843) 228- 6229 Website: www.beaufort.marines.mil
• Seymore Johnson Air Force Base –
  Website: https://www.seymourjohnson.af.mil/Portals/105/190322Noise%20Complaint
  %20AFPIMS_1.pdf
• Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River Phone Line: (910) 449-6311
• Naval Air Station Oceana: Community Concerns Hotline: (757) 433-2162

You can read the airport’s entire statement here.