Airport (106 page)

“Since you chose to mention the so-called noise abatement procedures,” Elliott Freemantle inquired sarcastically, “may I ask what happened to them tonight?”

Mel sighed. “We’ve had a storm for three days.” His glance took in the others in the delegation. “I’m sure you’re all aware of it. It’s created emergency situations.” He explained the blockage of runway three zero, the temporary need for takeoffs on runway two five, with the inevitable effect on Meadowood.

“That’s all very well,” one of the other men said. He was a heavy-jowled, balding man whom Mel had met at other discussions about airport noise. “We know about the storm, Mr. Bakersfeld. But if you’ve living directly underneath, knowing
why
airplanes are coming over doesn’t make anyone feel better, storm or not. By the way, my name is Floyd Zanetta. I was chairman of the meeting…”

Elliott Freernantle cut in smoothly. “If you’ll excuse me, there’s another point before we go on.” Obviously the lawyer had no intention of relinquishing control of the delegation, even briefly. He addressed Mel, with a sideways glance at the press. “It isn’t solely noise that’s filling homes and ears of Meadowood, though that’s bad enough–shattering nerves, destroying health, depriving children of their needed sleep. But there is a physical invasion…”

This time Mel interrupted. “Are you seriously suggesting that as an alternative to what’s happened tonight, the airport should close down?”

“Not only am I suggesting that you do it; we may compel you. A moment ago I spoke of a physical invasion. It is that which I will prove, before the courts, on behalf of my clients. And we will win!”

The other members of the delegation, including Floyd Zanetta, gave approving nods.

While waiting for his last words to sink home, Elliott Freemantle deliberated. He supposed he had gone almost far enough. It was disappointing that the airport general manager hadn’t blown a fuse, as Freernantle had been carefully goading him to do. The technique was one which he had used before, frequently with success, and it was a good technique because people who lost their tempers invariably came off worse in press reports, which wag what Freemantle was mainly concerned about. But Bakersfeld, though clearly annoyed, had been too smart to fall for that ploy. Well, never mind, Elliott Freemantle thought; he had been successful just the same. He, too, had seen the reporters industriously getting his words down–words which (with the sneer and hectoring tone removed) would read well in print; even better, he believed, than his earlier speech at the Meadowood meeting.

Of course, Freemantle realized, this whole proceeding was just an exercise in semantics. Nothing would come of it. Even if the airport manager, Bakersfeld, could be persuaded to their point of view–a highly unlikely happening–there was little or nothing he could do about it. The airport was a fact of life and nothing would alter the reality of it being where and how it was. No, the value of being here at all tonight was partly in gaining public attention, but principally (from Lawyer Freemantle’s viewpoint) to convince the Meadowood populace that they had a stalwart champion, so that those legal retainer forms (as well as checks) would keep on flowing into the offices of Freemantle and Sye.

It was a pity, Freemantle thought, that the remainder of the crowd from Meadowood, who were waiting downstairs, could not have heard him up here, dishing out the rough stuff–on their behalf–to Bakersfeld. But they would read about it in tomorrow’s papers; also, Elliott Freemantle was not at all convinced that what was happening here and now would be the last Meadowood item on tonight’s airport agenda. He had already promised the TV crews, who were waiting down below because they couldn’t make it in here with their equipment, a statement when this present session was over. He had hopes that by now–because he had suggested it–the TV cameras would be set up in the main terminal concourse, and even though that Negro police lieutenant had forbidden any demonstration there, Freemantle had an idea that the TV session, astutely managed, might well develop into one.

Elliott Freemantle’s statement of a moment ago had concerned legal action–the action which, he had assured Meadowood residents earlier this evening, would be his principal activity on their behalf. “My business is law,” he had told them. “Law and nothing else.” It was not true, of course; but then, Elliott Freemantle’s policies were apt to back and fill as expediency demanded.

“What legal action you take,” Mel Bakersfeld pointed out, “is naturally your own affair. All the same, I would remind you that the courts have upheld the rights of airports to operate, despite adjoining communities, as a matter of public convenience and necessity.”

Freemantle’s eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t realize that you are a lawyer too.”

“I’m not a lawyer. I’m also quite sure you’re aware of it.”

“Well, for a moment I was beginning to wonder.” Elliott Freemantle smirked. “Because I am, you see, and with some experience in these matters. Furthermore, I assure you that there are legal precedents in my clients’ favor.” As he had at the meeting earlier, he rattled off the impressive-sounding list of cases–
U.S. v. Causby, Griggs v. County of Allegheny, Thornburg v. Port of Portland, Martin v. Port of Seattle.

Mel was amused, though he didn’t show it. The cases were familiar to him. He also knew of others, which had produced drastically different judgments, and which Elliott Freemantle was either unaware of or had cagily avoided mentioning. Mel suspected the latter, but had no intention of getting into a legal debate. The place for that, if and when it happened, was in court.

However, Mel saw no reason why the lawyer–whom he now disliked even more intensely–should have everything his own way. Speaking to the delegation generally, Mel explained his reason for avoiding legal issues, but added, “Since we are all here, there are some things I would like to say to you on the subject of airports and noise generally.”

Cindy, he observed, was yawning.

Freemantle responded instantly. “I doubt if that will be necessary. The next step so far as we are concerned…”

“Oh!” For the first time Mel dispensed with mildness, and bore down heavily. “Am I to understand that after I’ve listened patiently to you, you and your group are not prepared to extend the same courtesy?”

The delegate, Zanetta, who had spoken before, glanced at the others. “I do think we ought…”

Mel said sharply, “Let Mr. Freemantle answer.”

“There’s really no need”–the lawyer smiled suavely–“for anyone to raise their voice, or be discourteous.”

“In that case, why have you been doing both those things ever since you came in?”

“I’m not aware…”

“Well, I
am
aware.”

“Aren’t you losing your temper, Mr. Bakersfeld?”

“No,” Mel smiled. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not.” He was conscious of having seized an advantage, catching the lawyer by surprise. Now he went on, “You’ve had a good deal to say, Mr. Freemantle, and not much of it politely. But there are a few things I’d like to get on the record, too. Also, I’m sure the press will be interested in both sides even if no one else is.”

“Oh, we’re interested all right. It’s just that we’ve heard all the wishy-washy excuses already.” As usual, Elliott Freemantle was recovering fast. But he admitted to himself that he had been lulled by Bakersfeld’s earlier mild manner, so that the sharp counterattack caught him unawares. He realized that the airport general manager was more astute than he appeared.

“I didn’t say anything about excuses,” Mel pointed out. “I suggested a review of airport noise situations generally.”

Freemantle shrugged. The last thing he wanted was to open up some new approach which might be newsworthy and, therefore, divert attention from himself. At the moment, though, he didn’t see how he could prevent it.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mel began, “when you first came here tonight something was said about plain, blunt speaking on both sides. Mr. Freemantle has had his turn at that; now I will be equally candid.”

Mel sensed he had the full attention of the two women and four men in the delegation; also of the press. Even Cindy was watching him covertly. He continued to speak quietly.

“All of you know, or should, the measures which we have taken at Lincoln International Airport to make life easier, more bearable, from the point of view of aircraft noise, for those who live in the airport vicinity. Some of these measures have been mentioned already, and there are others, such as using remote airport areas for the testing of engines, and even then during proscribed hours only.”

Elliott Freemantle, already fidgeting, cut in. “But you’ve admitted that these so-called systems fail to work.”

Mel snapped back, “I admitted nothing of the kind. Most of the time they
do
work–as well as any compromise can. Tonight I’ve admitted that they are not working because of exceptional circumstances, and frankly if I were a pilot, taking off in weather like this, I’d be reluctant to reduce power right after takeoff, and make a climbing turn too. Furthermore, this kind of condition is bound to recur from time to time.”

“Most of the time!”

“No, sir! And please allow me to finish!” Without pausing, Mel went on, “The fact is: airports–here and elsewhere–have come close to doing as much as they can in the way of noise reduction. You may not like hearing this, and not everyone in this business admits it, but the truth is: there isn’t a lot more that anyone can do. You simply cannot tiptoe a three hundred thousand pound piece of high-powered machinery into any place. So when you do bring a big jet airplane in–or take it out–inevitably it shakes hell out of a few people who are nearby.” There were several quick smiles, though not from Elliott Freemantle, who was scowling. Mel added, “So if we need airports–and obviously we do–somebody, somewhere has to put up with some noise, or move away.”

It was Mel’s turn to see the reporters’ pencils racing with his words.

“It’s true,” Mel continued, “that aircraft manufacturers are working on noise reduction devices, but–again to be honest with you–few people in the aviation industry take them seriously, and certainly they do not represent a major effort like, for example, development of a new aircraft. At best, they’ll be palliatives. If you don’t believe me, let me remind you that even though trucks have been in use for many years more than airplanes, no one has yet invented a really effective truck muffler.

“Another thing to bear in mind is that by the time one type of jet engine gets quieted a little–if it ever does–there’ll be new, more powerful engines in use which, even with suppressors fitted, will be noisier than the first engine was to begin with. As I said,” Mel added, “I am being absolutely frank.”

One of the women in the delegation murmured gloomily, “You sure are.”

“Which brings me,” Mel said, “to the question of the future. There are new breeds of aircraft coming–another family of jets after the Boeing 747s, including behemoths like the Lockheed 500, which will come into use soon; then shortly afterward, the supersonic transports–the Concordé, and those to follow. The Lockheed 500 and its kind will be subsonic–that is, they’ll operate at less than the speed of sound, and will give us the kind of noise we have now, only more of it. The supersonics will have a mighty engine noise too,
plus
a sonic boom as they breach the sound barrier, which is going to be more of a problem than any other noise we’ve had so far.

“You may have heard or read–as I have–optimistic reports that the sonic booms will occur high, far from cities and airports, and that the effect on the ground will be minor. Don’t believe it! We’re in for trouble, all of us–people in homes, like you; people like me, who run airports; airlines, who’ll have a billion dollars invested in equipment which they must use continuously, or go bankrupt. Believe me, the time is coming when we’ll wish we had the simplicity of the kind of noise we’re talking about tonight.”

“So what are you telling my clients?” Elliott Freemantle inquired sarcastically. “To go jump in the lunatic asylum now rather than wait until you and your behemoths drive them there?”

“No,” Mel said firmly, “I’m not telling them that. I’m merely saying candidly–the way you asked me to–that I haven’t any simple answers; nor will I make you promises that the airport cannot keep. Also I’m saving that in my opinion, airport noise is going to become greater, not less. However, I’d like to remind all of you that this problem isn’t new. It’s existed since trains started running, and since trucks, buses, and automobiles joined them; there was the same problem when freeways were built through residential areas; and when airports were established, and grew. All these things are for the public good–or so we believe–yet all of them create noise and, despite all kinds of efforts, they’ve continued to. The thing is: trucks, trains, freeways, airplanes, and the rest are here. They’re part of the way we live, and unless we change our way of life, then their noise is something we have to live with too.”

“In other words, my clients should abandon any idea of serenity, uninterrupted sleep, privacy and quietness for the remainder of their natural lives?”

“No,” Mel said. “I think, in the end, they’ll have to move. I’m not speaking officially, of course, but I’m convinced that eventually this airport and others will be obliged to make multibillion-dollar purchases of residential areas surrounding them. A good many of the areas can become industrial zones where noise won’t matter. And of course, there would be reasonable compensation to those who owned homes and were forced to leave them.”

Elliott Freemantle rose and motioned others in the delegation to do the same.

“That last remark,” he informed Mel, “is the one sensible thing I’ve heard this evening. However, the compensation may start sooner than you think, and also be larger.” Freemantle nodded curtly. “You will be hearing from us. We shall see you in court.”

He went out, the others following.

Through the door to the anteroom Mel heard one of the two women delegates exclaim, “You were magnificent, Mr. Freemantle. I’m going to tell everyone so.”