Yellowknife (Aug 09/06) - The number and proximity of planes taking off and landing at the Yellowknife Airport has become a headache for some citizens.

"The noise level is way too high with planes flying over at all hours of the day," said downtown resident Jeff Kilfoy who added that he felt the aircraft were coming too close to city buildings.

"Even with the airshow I was concerned at how close the Snowbirds were coming to the new highrise."

Unlike some airports that restrict carriers from operating at certain times of the day, Yellowknife has no such policy.

"We do work with airlines so that when they land and take off they move away from the city as soon as possible," said Steve Loutit, Yellowknife Airport manager, who also noted that wind plays a factor as to which direction planes can approach and depart. "We're not going to jeopardize the safety of the aircraft by having them land or take off with the wrong wind direction."

Loutit said most of the air traffic has been the result of constant shuttling of supplies from Yellowknife to the mines, which have employed the services of five transport planes; three Hercules, a Boeing 737 and an Antonov AN-12. On the passenger carrier side, the first flight out departs at 7 a.m. and the last flight in arrives at 10:05 p.m.

The increased air traffic to the mines is a result of this winter's shorter than usual ice-road season.

As for noise generated by these planes, there is good news on the horizon.

"The Antonov has departed, the Boeing is done and so is one of the Hercs," said Loutit. "So we're actually down to two cargo aircraft by August 12."

By October, First Air's Hercules will be the only large-scale cargo plane operating out of the airport.

According to airport statistics the 7,152 flights in and out of the capital this June is an increase of 31 per cent over the same month in 2005. Loutit said the airport's "flight movement" total of 80,052

put Yellowknife Airport among the nation's top ten busiest.

But despite the concerns of some residents, others are not so bothered by the air traffic racket.

"They go over the house, but it's not that bad," said William Hiebert, a

30-year Yellowknife resident, who lives downtown.

"I'm used to the airplane traffic and it doesn't really bother me."