Desing said the FAA recently completed noise testing in several areas along the eastern benches and in the mountains to help determine what sort of noise levels the jets would produce.

That information will be placed in a draft environmental impact study due out in May. The public will have at least 30 days to comment on that study before it is made final about six months later, Desing said. The outcome of that study, as well as public comments, will determine whether the FAA goes through with the plan to create the eastern downwind.

Christensen said the plan should be killed, especially since the largest carrier at the airport doesn't see the need.

"The controllers are not having a problem, the pilots are not having a problem and therefore we do not have a problem," he said. "So let's not try to solve a problem that doesn't exist."

Tim Campbell, Salt Lake City Department of Airport's director, is against the plan, saying the FAA is overly optimistic about air traffic growth at the airport.

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