To the Editor,

It used to be you could set your clock by it. The first jet took off at 6 a.m. from T. F. Green.

Over the past few years the time has gradually crept backwards. One morning a jet took off five minutes early, the next time 15 minutes early, then one morning at 5:30 a.m. A few weeks ago one took to the sky at 5:10 a.m..

These are not altered routes due to mechanical issues, inclement weather, or flight delays from airports of origin. These are regularly scheduled departures on one airline’s website. I’ve used this airline which originated in the southwest for over 30 years, but I’ll be booking my cross-country flights with another airline which honors the encouraged airport courtesy hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m.

Noise ordinances in the city of Warwick include a quiet hours guideline of 10:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. Gardeners don’t turn on their lawnmowers until 7:00 a.m.; contractors don’t start hammering until 7 a.m.

The suggested timeframe for airlines allows for an additional three hours. The residents of Warwick deserve, at minimum, six hours of sleep per night to do their best at work and school, and to drive safely.

Airlines based at T.F. Green should strive to be good neighbors. Why not allow the barrage of jets to begin at 6:00 a.m. as before?

Erin O’Brien,
of Warwick